Palo Alto, CA (MMD Newswire) August 4, 2011 -- Ruga Corporation, a developer of innovative medicines for cancer by targeting tumor adaptive responses, announced today a publication in the journalScience Translational Medicine (stm.sciencemag.org) that identifies a glucose transporter (GLUT1) as a novel target in cancer. “We are excited about this important publication which validates GLUT1 as a promising novel therapeutic target in cancer” stated Ray Tabibiazar, M.D., Ruga’s Chief Executive Officer. The publication also demonstrates a powerful method to identify new and important metabolic targets in cancer in genetically defined patient population.. As a whole, this research provides important new validation for the emerging field of cancer metabolism. The publication arises from research at Stanford University laboratory of Amato Giaccia Ph.D., a scientific founder of Ruga and Denise Chan Ph.D. a member of Ruga’s Scientific Advisory Board. The manuscript, titled “Targeting GLUT1 and the Warburg Effect in Renal Cell Carcinoma by Chemical Synthetic Lethality” is available in the advanced online publication at: stm.sciencemag.org/content/3/94/94ra70.abstract.
Targeting of tumor metabolism via selective disruption of glucose uptake.
Cancer cells preferentially require glucose to support their rapid growth through a process known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. Although the Warburg effect was first described more than 50 years ago, only recently have the molecular mechanisms of these tumor-selective metabolic pathways been understood and become targets of new anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. GLUT1 as the gateway to Warburg effect serves as a promising novel therapeutic target for selective disruption of glucose uptake by cancer cells.
“This paper involved a true collaborative effort of many scientists spanning two continents said Dr. Giaccia. The work validates the targeting of GLUT-1 as a selective means of treating renal cell cancer. The future goal will be to get this small molecule developed for the clinic and determine what other tumor types will also benefit from such an approach.”
In July 2010, Ruga obtained an exclusive worldwide license to platform technology from Stanford University for targeting tumor specific adaptive responses that encompass tumor metabolism, tumor microenvironment adaptation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. The technologies were developed in laboratories of Dr. Amato Giaccia and Dr. Albert Koong at Stanford University. “We are pleased that Dr. Giaccia’s work was recognized and published in Science Translational Medicine. This serves to further validate the work on our GLUT1 tumor metabolism program for the treatment of various genetically defined cancer patients, especially those with VHL negative renal cell carcinoma” said Dr. Tabibiazar. “If proven safe and effective in the clinic, GLUT1 inhibition could be a game changer in care of renal cell cancer patients” added Dr. Tabibiazar.
About Ruga Corporation
Ruga Corporation is a drug discovery and development company focused on innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer. The Company’s approach is directed against novel tumor-specific adaptive responses which encompass endoplasmic reticulum stress, tumor microenvironment adaptation, and tumor metabolism targets. Ruga’s programs benefit from strong gene-disease linkage which is expected to accelerate drug development by allowing selection of responder patient populations, enabling more focused clinical trials. For more information, please visit Ruga’s website at www.rugacorp.com.
For further information, please contact:
Jeff Riley
Chief Business Officer
jeff@rugacorp.com
+1.650.561.3161
