Using its unique nanoparticle research platform, Minerva has shown that MUC1 is actually cleaved to a new form, called MUC1* (‘star’). Once cleaved, MUC1* dimerizes with itself and other growth factor receptors through binding of a newly discovered ligand for MUC1*, called NM23. Binding and dimerization then acts to activate the tumor to unregulated cell growth, invasion and metastasis. Blocking MUC1* dimerization and NM23 binding leads to cancer cell death. Minerva has identified both antibody-based and small molecule therapeutics that disable the receptor and block cancer cell growth.
This new discovery may also lead to better diagnostics. In collaboration with a leading diagnostic reference lab in California, Minerva has shown that MUC1* is expressed to much higher levels than MUC1 in a variety of human tumor tissues, and in the future could provide both diagnostic and prognostic information on tumor development.
About Minerva Biotechnologies
Minerva is a US-headquartered company focused on a next generation novel nanoparticle platform. Minerva enjoys a broad and dominant intellectual property position in the field of nanotechnology with over 100 patents or patent applications filed with US and worldwide rights reserved. Minerva’s intellectual property covers a wide range of uses for its nanoparticle systems in fields as diverse as drug discovery, proteomics, opto-electronics and nano-scale biosensors. Minerva has focused squarely on drug discovery and diagnostics for cancer and stem cell treatments and has used its nanotechnology in-house to expedite novel target identification and new drug development. For more information, visit www.MinervaBio.com
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Contact:
Minerva Biotechnology Cynthia Bamdad, 617-821-8773 cbamdad@minervabio.com
Source: Minerva Biotechnology
