October 2002
Licensing Deal: Molecule Found in Human Lungs Recruited in the War Against Cancer
KS Biomedix, a biopharmaceutical company based in Guildford (Surrey, UK) has licensed in a novel protein engineering technology from Isis Innovation, the technology transfer company of Oxford University, UK.
Researchers at Oxford University have been investigating particular proteins found in mammalian lung surfactants, which are thought to assist in keeping the lungs free from bacteria. Within these proteins are smaller, three-part structures or "trimers". Trimers are natural "scaffolds" to which other molecules can be attached, giving rise to "smart" drugs with application in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
KSB believes that a synthetic version of these trimer molecules can be engineered in the laboratory so that one end of each trimer protein binds tightly and specifically to cancer cells, while the other end will carry a radioactive isotope or other substance lethal to cancer cells. Other potential uses of the technology include making efficient bispecific antibodies that cross-link cancer cells with white blood cells thereby inducing immune stimulation and for cross-linking targets on cancer cells to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death).
The human origin of these trimers is particularly attractive as they should not be recognised as "foreign" by the immune system of cancer patients, a phenomenon that can cause treatment-limiting side effects. Trimer entities are also stable and can be made in a variety of production systems, including bacteria, that are cost effective for biopharmaceutical companies.
Dr Steven Powell, KS Biomedix Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Although it's still very early, this technology has the potential to transform cancer therapy. By making it possible to deliver a larger dose of radiation or cancer-killing molecules direct to the tumour, the treatment would be more effective and with fewer side effects than drugs which are currently available or in development. Although this technology is still at a research stage we would hope that it would give rise to a new generation of therapeutic products which would be ready for clinical development within the next 3-4 years."
In return for granting exclusive worldwide rights to the technology for certain disease indications, Isis will receive a licence fee from KSB, plus milestone payments and royalties on sales of any products based on trimer technology. Tom Hockaday, Executive Director of Isis, said, "We are very encouraged by the commitment KSB is demonstrating to this technology and the way they are collaborating with the Oxford researcher to develop the technology for this important healthcare application."
Notes to Editors
KS Biomedix Holdings Plc (Guildford, UK) is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the UK that is developing a broad, late-stage pipeline of drugs for a range of cancer indications and inflammatory disease. In addition, it has a number of technology platforms based on its range of receptor-based targeting technologies one of which is KSB's super high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (SMAs). The Company has six clinical programs, including TransMID-107R™ for the treatment of adult, recurrent, inoperable high-grade gliomas (brain tumours) and KSB303, an anti-CEA antibody for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
KS Biomedix was founded in 1993 and floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in 1995. The Company joined the Official List of the London Stock Exchange in 1998.
For more information, please visit www.ksbiomedix.com.
Isis Innovation Ltd, Oxford University's wholly-owned technology transfer company established in 1988, is a world leader in university technology transfer. Isis currently files a patent a week and spins-out a company every two months based on academic research generated within and owned by the University. The combined value of Oxford's companies has reached £2 billion, using quoted market capitalisations and investor valuations for unquoted companies. The creation of these new spin-out companies benefits local economic development and has created many new jobs in the region.