Germantown, MD --(January, 20, 2012) –Chikujee Therapeutics, a leading multi-functional nanoparticle based drug development company, today announced that the Chikujee and Avanti Research and Development (R&D) Team has selected and confirmed the lead CT-KT-125 formulation for a NanoBindi™-based therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer. The team has also advanced the lead small molecule candidates towards in vivo evaluation to identify a candidate drug product for continued development. The joint R&D Team expects to select the lead candidate in early 2012. Including lead candidate selection, the Company anticipates achieving several near-term developmental milestones in the first half of 2012.
“This is significant progress for our ovarian cancer program with Avanti Therapeutics,” stated Arkesh Mehta, Chief Executive, Chikujee Therapeutics. “As evidenced by the decision of the joint R&D team, the lead CT-KT-125 formulation that Chikujee Therapeutics brought to the collaboration does not only provide for efficient targeted delivery but is appropriate for advancement into development. Furthermore, our targeted NanoBindi™ based therapeutic product provided ultrasensitive molecular detection against molecular targets selected for evaluation. We are pleased that the program is going well and progressing rapidly towards development of a novel and much needed patient-friendly treatment for ovarian cancer.”
Chikujee and Avanti Therapeutics announced the development and commercialization agreement in June of 2011. Chikujee Therapeutics has full responsibility for development and commercialization of any products and the payments are based on predefined research and development milestones as well as royalties on the sale of products. Additionally, all Chikujee research costs for the ovarian cancer program have been funded by Avanti Therapeutics since June 2011.
About Aayush™ Platform
Aayush™ is a Chikujee Therapeutics proprietary personalized healthcare product development platform for novel personalized cancer medicine using innovative multifunctional NanoBindi™ based products. The versatility of the Aayush platform provides for a rapid and scientifically robust process for improving the targeted delivery characteristics of novel formulations to meet specific requirements for a particular therapeutic application, i.e., administration via systemic or local delivery. In addition to research advancements, the development teams at Chikujee Therapeutics are focused on the long term commercial requirements for ultrasensitive detection, targeted delivery of therapeutics and biomarkers for clinical monitoring of disease biomarkers.
About CT-KT-125
CT-KT-125 is a nanoparticle-based product with a core-shell architecture, where core contains the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel and the shell is made up of biodegradable hybrid of silica. The unique core-shell architecture makes the product patient-friendly by eliminating the side effects of paclitaxel in the cancer patients. The proprietary biomolecular oligomeric silica hybrid (BOSH), monomer used for the synthesis of the nanoparticle shell has four reactive groups that provide flexibility of surface functionalization for optimum safety, efficacy and targeting capabilities to the innovative product formulation. Incorporation of targeting molecules in the precisely engineered groups provide zip code specificity for accurate targeting of the to the cancer cell. Incorporation of imaging agents in the shell provide precise monitoring of the associated biomarker for clinical monitoring of the efficacy of the drug encapsulated in the nanoparticle. Specifically the precisely engineered NanoBindi based products provide all the tools necessary for developing personalized health care medicines that are patient-friendly.
About Chikujee Therapeutics, Inc.
Chikujee Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of nanoparticle-based personalized therapeutics utilizing multiple functionalities including ultrasensitive detection, targeted therapeutics and non-invasive clinical monitoring of disease biomarkers. The Chikujee Therapeutics pipeline currently includes clinical programs in detection and targeted therapeutics for ovarian and breast cancer and multiple preclinical programs -- in lung, prostate and other types of cancers. Chikujee Therapeutics entered into an exclusive license agreement with Avanti Therapeutics for the development and commercialization of the oncology program. Chikujee’ s goal is to improve human health through the development of NanoBindi™ based personalized healthcare products and non- invasive diagnostics and targeted drug delivery technologies that together provide superior detection, monitoring and therapeutic options for patients. Additional information about Chikujee Therapeutics is available at http://www.Chikujee.com.
Contact:
Chikujee Therapeutics, Inc.
Jenny Smith
Corporate Communications
(240)-422-2118
jenny.smith@Chikujee.com
