SignalChem has developed a technology platform that specifically focuses on cancer relapse and metastasis (spread of cancer to different parts of the body) using a group of proteins called kinases, which is the company’s expertise.
Advinus has put together a team of world-wide leaders in drug discovery and development to help advance such programs efficiently.
The companies will also develop biological markers for personalized treatment of cancer patients – the right drug to the right patient at the right time.
Why It Matters:
· Cancer mortality and morbidity are on the rise worldwide – in North America, cancer is overtaking cardiovascular disease as the primary cause of death and is rapidly growing in South Asia as well.
· The World Health Organization says 7.6 million people worldwide died from cancer in 2008 – including 1.5 million people in India – and predicts total cancer deaths will reach 12 million by 2030.
· Nearly 8,700 British Columbians died of cancer in 2009, according to the BC Cancer Agency.
· Advinus and SignalChem estimate relapse and metastasis account for 90 per cent of cancer deaths.
Quotes:
B.C. Premier Christy Clark –
“This is what our Jobs Trade Mission is all about – helping local companies make connections that will allow them to do business in India. We have an innovative technology and life sciences sector in B.C., which has a lot to offer India to support its economic growth. The partnership between Advinus and SignalChem will benefit people around the world.”
Dr. Rashmi Barbhaiya, CEO and Managing Director of Advinus –
“This collaboration is an exemplary model of polycentric and globally networked innovation for enhancing probability of success, reducing timelines, and focusing on cost-effective partnerships to bring innovative medicines to the market. This collaboration would also leverage leading edge biomedical research of British Columbia research institutions and Advinus’s capabilities and infrastructure to translate biomedical research discoveries into potential life saving drugs.”
Dr. Jasbinder Sanghera, CEO of SignalChem –
“This is a path-breaking partnership that leverages SignalChem's extensive biology and kinase expertise and Advinus's end-to-end capabilities of medicinal chemistry, lead optimization, preclinical development and early-clinical development capabilities to rapidly and efficiently advance new anti-cancer drug candidates into human clinical trials.”
About the Companies:
Advinus Therapeutics
· Advinus Therapeutics is a research-based pharmaceutical company founded by leading global pharmaceutical executives and promoted by the TATA Group.
· The company is the first of its kind in India to offer end-to-end development services to the global pharma, agro and biotech industries and at the same time creating long-term value through internal and collaborative innovative drug discovery and drug development.
· Advinus drug discovery, located in a state-of-the-art facility in Pune (near Mumbai), is developing its own drug candidates with the objective of out-licensing them at preclinical or clinical stages.
· Advinus’s pharmaceutical development operation is based out of Bangalore and is set on a nine-acre campus with 240,000 square feet of modern facilities.
· The Bangalore centre is also one of the most accredited R&D centres of India with certification from AAALAC International and from the German, Dutch and Indian authorities for GLP compliance.
· In its management and senior leadership team, the company has over 150 years of drug discovery and drug development experience in U.S. large pharmaceutical companies, with specific experience handling dozens of IND and NDA filings.
SignalChem Pharmaceuticals
· SignalChem Pharmaceuticals of Richmond is founded by people with extensive experience in target discovery and validation, assay development, high throughput screening (HTS) and lead compound discovery.
· SignalChem’s bioreagent division focuses on the commercialization of cell signalling enzymes and proteins for drug discovery research and development.
· This division supplies more than 500 functionally active and highly pure recombinant forms of cell signalling enzymes (kinases, phosphatases, phosphodiesterases, transcriptional factors, histone deacetylases and methyl transferases) to clients to support basic research and drug discovery efforts.
· SignalChem utilizes the cell signalling enzymes available in-house to perform HTS assays to identify potent and selective compounds.
· Over the past three years, some of these compounds have progressed into development as preclinical cancer therapy programs in collaboration with the British Columbia Cancer Agency.
Learn More at:
Advinus Therapeutics: www.advinus.com
SignalChem Pharmaceuticals: www.signalchem.com
Media Contacts:
Marisa Adair
Communications Director
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 920-8500
Kevin McDuffie, Director of Business Development
kmcduffie@signalchem.com
SignalChem Pharmaceuticals
Akash Mathur, Global Head Business Development
Akash.mathur@advinus.com
Advinus Therapeutics
