Archive: Company News

Company News: biocrea and Pfizer Jointly Presented Details on Novel PDE10 Inhibitors at the 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition

– Novel treatment opportunities for CNS diseases –

biocrea, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), today reported details on the design and synthesis of novel, brain-penetrating phosphodiesterase-10 (PDE10) inhibitors developed in collaboration with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE). The data were featured in joint presentations[1] with Pfizer at the recent 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, an event organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

The data demonstrated that the scientists at Pfizer and biocrea were able to eliminate undesired activity on adenosine receptors and to considerably improve the compounds´ physicochemical properties and potency. The team had started with initial high-throughput hits characterized by low potency and selectivity. Further lead optimization led to a number of compounds with very robust activity in a range of preclinical models of anti-psychotic efficacy. Moreover, these PDE10 inhibitors produced low levels of catalepsy, suggesting a minimal risk for the induction of side-effects involving the extrapyramidal system (EPS), the most common adverse reaction observed with anti-psychotic drugs.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) have been identified as key regulators of intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels in the brain. Mechanistically, PDE10 inhibition has two major benefits, mimicking, (1) the effects of antagonists of the dopamine-2 receptor, the current standard treatment for psychosis, and (2) the effects of agonists of dopamine-1 receptors, which may decrease the side-effect liabilities while contributing to a pro-cognitive profile.

 

[1] Malamas M et al., 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition Abstract 65 – Imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalines as selective PDE10A inhibitors for the treatment of schizophrenia, http://redir.ec/Qr3C; Malamas, M. et al., 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition Abstract 66 – Benzo[e]imidazo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazines as selective PDE10A inhibitors for the treatment of schizophrenia, http://redir.ec/pl1Q


Company News: bubbles & beyond Expands Into I&I Sector, Signs Agreement with JNC Corporation

bubbles & beyond, a technology company focusing on customized intelligent fluids™, and the Japanese chemicals company JNC Corporation (formerly CHISSO) today announced an exclusive development collaboration on novel cleaning and stripping solutions for microelectronic devices.

Under the agreement, bubbles & beyond and JNC Corporation will jointly develop new solutions to facilitate and accelerate the complex cleaning processes for microelectronics. Within the next 18 months, both companies will identify and develop next-generation, sustainable cleaning and stripping agents suitable for the production of various microelectronics components, e.g. LCDs, OLEDs, plasma screens, motherboards, semiconductors, etc..

JNC Corporation receives an option to obtain the exclusive manufacturing and commercialization rights in Asia to any products resulting from the collaboration, while bubbles & beyond retains all product rights outside Asia. Moreover, bubbles & beyond receives alloted R&D payments during the collaboration.

Company News: LSP launches IPO of LSP Life Sciences Fund on NYSE Euronext

Having built an exceptional track record as one of Europe´s most successful and reputable investment firms in life sciences, LSP Life Sciences Partners has decided to set up a public fund, which has been taken public on NYSE Euronext today. The LSP Life Sciences Fund (ISIN: NL0009756394) is managed by Mark Wegter, Joep Muijrers and Geraldine O’Keeffe, all of which are seasoned investment professionals in the healthcare sector and have been responsible for LSP´s investments in public companies since 2008. Since then, the team has significantly outperformed the market and generated a return in excess of +150%, according to Mark Wegter.

The new fund takes a long-only investment strategy and allows generalist and retail investors to benefit from LSP´s outstanding expertise in life sciences – a highly complex and knowledge-driven sector.  While investing primarily in Europe, there will also be selected U.S. investments. The fund´s goal is to participate in all forms of primary or secondary offerings, including follow-on offerings, block trades and IPOs – given that the respective investee company passes the team´s strict, comprehensive diligence process, which is regarded as a key to success by LSP.

 

Company News: Micromet’s BiTE Antibody MT112/BAY 2010112 Demonstrates Potent Activity against Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI) yesterday evening announced the presentation of pre-clinical data on its BiTE antibody MT112/BAY 2010112, discovered and developed in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Orlando, Florida.

The data (poster # 4561) demonstrate the potent activity of the BiTE antibody against human cancer cell lines and inhibition of tumor growth in animal models.  MT112/ BAY 2010112 directed human and non-human primate T cells against PSMA-positive human prostate cancer cells, resulting in highly efficient cancer cell destruction. In mice, daily doses of MT112/BAY 2010112 as low as 0.05 milligram/kilogram were sufficient to inhibit growth of tumors from human prostate cancer cells.

During the course of the meeting, the Company also presented preclinical data on MT110, its BiTE antibody targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM).  Results reported (poster # 1790) provide further validation of EpCAM as a cancer stem cell target, and show utility of MT110 to eradicate cancer stem cells derived from breast and hepatocellular carcinoma.

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