BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Tigris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug development company, announced that it has entered into worldwide, exclusive license agreements with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (the “Moffitt Cancer Center”), Yale University (“Yale”), and the University of South Florida Research Foundation (“University of South Florida”) for the rights to commercially develop novel, molecularly targeted therapies for cancer.
Pursuant to the license agreements, Tigris acquired the rights to several small molecules, including GFB-204 and GGTI-2418. GFB-204 is a potent and selective dual synthetic inhibitor of VEGF and PDGF action. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies have shown that GFB-204 inhibits VEGF- and PDGF-dependent angiogenesis. In animal models, GFB-204 appears active orally against a wide spectrum of human tumors, including lung, prostate, renal, pancreatic, and breast. GGTI-2418 is a synthetic peptidomimetic inhibitor of geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I) that appears to induce apoptosis by downregulating several pivotal oncogenic and tumor survival pathways. In nude mice xenografts, GGTI-2418 was shown to be highly potent in inhibiting the growth of human breast and lung tumors.
“We are extremely pleased by the decisions of the Moffitt Cancer Center, Yale University, and the University of South Florida, to entrust Tigris with the development and commercialization of two of their most exciting oncology molecules,” said Edmundo Muniz, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tigris. “We will use our best efforts to advance these molecules through the clinic and, hopefully, bring their benefits to patients who need them as soon as possible.”
“The out-licensing of these two very important molecularly targeted compounds to Tigris Pharmaceuticals is a significant milestone for the Moffitt Cancer Center,” stated Said M. Sebti, Ph.D., Director of the Drug Discovery Program at the Moffitt Cancer Center and co-inventor of GFB-204 and GGTI-2418. “We have absolute confidence in the ability of the Tigris management team to drive these key technologies through successful development.”
Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, Tigris will pay development based milestones and royalties based on sales of the licensed products.
“Yale, the Moffitt Cancer Center, and the University of South Florida are very excited at the prospect of these technologies being developed by the experienced team at Tigris,” noted John Puziss, Ph.D., Director of Technology Licensing at Yale.
“Moffitt Cancer Center is impressed with the talent of the management team of Tigris Pharmaceuticals and is confident that Tigris will be successful in bringing these potent oncology drugs to market,” noted Jarett Rieger, Esq., MBA, Manager of the Office of Technology Management and Commercialization at the Moffitt Cancer Center.
“Tigris is well positioned to quickly develop these molecules, which furthers the mission of our two Universities to leverage academic research thereby benefiting the many patients who await treatment,” said Valerie L. McDevitt, Esq., Director of the Division of Patents & Licensing at the University of South Florida.
Tigris plans to initiate Phase I clinical trials for both GFB-204 and GGTI-2418 in 2007.
About Tigris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tigris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutic technologies to treat oncology, infectious diseases and other areas of unmet medical need. Tigris is currently conducting a Phase II clinical study for A-007, its topical treatment for pre-cancerous and cancerous anogenital lesions associated with HPV. Tigris is also developing two novel, targeted small molecule oncology compounds. Tigris’ mission is to efficiently move its existing and future technologies through the various stages of clinical development in order to meet patients’ needs for safe and effective treatments of human illnesses.
Contact: Edmundo Muniz President and Chief Executive Officer Tigris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (239) 444-5400 info@tigrispharma.com About Yale Office of Cooperative Research
The Yale University Office of Cooperative Research (YU-OCR) manages intellectual assets created at Yale to achieve the maximum benefit for the public and provide a return to support the broader research and education missions of the University. YU-OCR is comprised of trusted experts in professional disciplines, increasing private sector awareness within the university and identifying opportunities for collaborations with companies, investors and other academic institutions.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
In 2001, Moffitt Cancer Center earned NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center status in recognition of its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Additionally, Moffitt Cancer Center is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals for cancer. Moffitt Cancer Center’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
About The University of South Florida
The University of South Florida (“USF”) is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF received more than $287 million in research contracts and grants last year, and it is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation’s fastest growing universities in terms of federal research and development expenditures. The university has a $1.3 billion annual budget and serves nearly 43,250 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota/Manatee and Lakeland.
Tigris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Edmundo Muniz, President and Chief Executive Officer, TigrisPharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-239-444-5400, info@tigrispharma.com
Web site: http://www.tigrispharma.com/
