Geneva, Switzerland - 17 June, 2009 - Med Discovery, an oncology company specialized in protein-based therapeutics, is pleased to announce that it has signed an in-licensing deal for a technology based on RasGAP-derived peptides that enhance the effect of genotoxins for cancer therapy. This technology, developed at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) by Professor Christian Widmann, enhances the effect of genotoxic compounds on cancer cells but not on non-cancerous cells.
The RasGAP derived peptides will immediately enter to the development program. This adds a new technology to Med Discovery’s existing portfolio of compounds in the oncology area. The RasGAP technology has the possibility of being used in the treatment of all cancers where genotoxic chemotherapy is currently used. This could be used to increase the efficacy of these chemotherapies, or alternatively to reduce the dose of chemotherapeutic used, reducing the potential for undesirable side effects.
“This very promising new technology brings an additional line to our oncology portfolio, and has broad applicability. It will initially be validated in a urologic cancer, taking advantage of our clinical network,” said Dr. David Deperthes, CEO. He continued: “During the last year we have spent some considerable energy looking for interesting projects to consolidate our portfolio and it is ironic that we should find such a promising technology right on our doorstep in Lausanne. We are enthusiastic about starting the process of developing this technology for the clinic.”
