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Spinning Innovation

Kinaris Biomedicals – Targeting motor protein triggered cell motility

 
Kinaris Biomedicals GmbH at a Glance

Approach:
Exploring myosins as a new drug target in medicine using structure-based drug development

Advantage:
Potential to outperform existing myosin modulators in terms of (isoform-)specificity and efficacy 

Application:
Potential for broad applicability, e.g. cancer, malaria, cardiovascular diseases

Development Status:
Discovery (Lead Optimization)

Originating Institution: Hanover Medical School (MHH), Technical University Dresden (TUD)

Myosins are prominent motor proteins found in virtually all eukaryotic cells that drive a broad range of movements such as cell motility, muscular contraction, cytokinesis, membrane trafficking and signal transduction. Some myosins are also involved in the development of diseases such as cancer, malaria, cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the central nervous system. The idea of targetting them for therapeutic purposes appears compelling. Yet the development of myosin modulators (inhibitors and activators) with sufficient specificity and efficacy has proved to be quite challenging. Scientists of the Hanover Medical School (MHH) and the Technical University Dresden (TUD), have now identified a new allosteric binding site on myosin as a promising therapeutic target and have generated a range of small molecule inhibitors and activators as potential therapeutic leads. Based on impressive data and a strong IP position, Kinaris was founded with the mission to validate and mature this approach and make corresponding drugs available to patients. There is a broad range of potential. Among others, the team are exploring the specific inhibition of human myosins over-expressed in tumour cells with an invasive phenotype. Further projects are addressing myosins that are responsible for scarring following a heart attack or myosins that trigger the invasion of malaria-causing parasites.
For the MHH and Ascenion, Kinaris is the first spin-out they have jointly helped get off the ground. The partners are currently in the process of structuring a collaboration agreement providing Kinaris with continued access to the MHH’s expertise and infrastructure as required for the validation and further development of its myosin inhibitors.

 

MBiotec – Discovered by chance, developed over decades: New anti-cancer compound

MBiotec at a glance

Approach:
New compound for cancer immunotherapy

Advantage:
Effective stimulation of the immune system, activating innate as well as adaptive immune response; strong potential for cancer immunotherapy

Product: MALP-2S, synthetic lipopeptide

Development Status:
Physician-sponsored phase I/II trial finalized, orphan drug designation for pancreatic cancer 

Originating Institutions:
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig

Back in the 1980s, Prof. Peter Mühlradt and his team observed a puzzling effect that a cell culture supernatant had on certain immune cells from the thymus gland. Initially, they assumed that they had discovered novel cytokines, as was the primary intention of their work. Yet, after several months of intense work, they found out that the effect was actually due to a metabolite produced by tiny mycoplasma that had contaminated their cell culture. They named it “MALP” for Macrophage Activating LipoPeptide. Over the years, the team has characterized the compound in detail, established a process for the production of a synthetic analogue, MALP-2S, and built an extensive set of data demonstrating that it can effectively stimulate the human immune system – that is, innate as well as adaptive immunity. Potential applications include vaccination, wound healing, sepsis prophylaxis and cancer immunotherapy. Impressive results from a physician-sponsored phase I/II trial in pancreatic cancer triggered interest from experienced industry managers, when presented at BioVaria 2008. In follow-on discussions with Prof. Mühlradt, the idea was born to set up a new company in order to exploit the potential of MALP-2 for cancer immunotherapy. The team is currently on the road to attracting investors for its first financing round. Upon successful completion, the company aims to perform a fast-track clinical programme in pancreatic cancer. A first milestone was achieved in April, when the EMEA granted an orphan drug designation for this indication. This could provide new hope for pancreatic cancer patients. With a median survival of just 4–6 months following the diagnosis, improved treatment options are needed badly.

Meet us at the forthcoming events:

STS Forum, October 4–6, 2009, Kyoto, Japan

ASTP Fall Seminar, October 29 & 30, 2009, Krakow, Poland

BioEurope, November 2–4, 2009, Vienna, Austria 

Biotech Networkshop, February 24–26, 2010, Schloss Ringberg (Tegernsee),  Germany

BioVaria, April 20, 2010, Munich, Germany

News in Brief:

Partnership with nine Leibniz Institutes continued
Following 3 years of collaboration, all the partner institutions of the Leibniz Association decided to continue their cooperation with Ascenion as exclusive marketing partner. more

 
New partner from the Leibniz Association: IfN
Ascenion has also closed a partnership contract with the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (IfN) in Magdeburg. more

Alliance with TWINCORE 
Ascenion and TWINCORE - Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, have signed an exclusive collaboration agreement for comprehensive IP asset management support. more

New assistant for Ascenion’s team
Since January this year, Christiane Schwarz has been assisting Ascenion’s management and co-ordinates travel for all her colleagues more

Rights to new ALL-test licensed to Medac
Ascenion has initiated and negotiated a licence agreement on behalf of Hanover Medical School (MHH) providing Medac with exclusive worldwide rights to a diagnostic test that can help guide the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). more

Fast diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases: Licence agreement with Roche Diagnostics
Researchers at the MHH Hospital for Cardiology and Angiology around Prof. Dr Kai C. Wollert have identified growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) as a marker in the blood of cardiac patients more


Novel antibiotic against tuberculosis licensed to Inverness Medical
Ascenion has negotiated the agreement on behalf of an international consortium of patent owners including a Russian inventor, the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) and the Institut Pasteur. more

FZB closes four collaboration contracts 
The FZB - Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Center for Medicine and Biosciences has entered into four alliances with industry: more

DIfE becomes member of the Life Science Foundation
Ascenion’s parent holding, the Life Science Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research has a new member: the Institute of Human Nutrition (DifE). more

Contact us:

Munich:
T +49 89 318814-0
info(at)ascenion.de

Berlin:
T +49 30 9406 230 -1/-4
berlin(at)ascenion.de

Braunschweig:
T +49 531 6181 2090
braunschweig(at)ascenion.de

Hamburg:
T +49 40 22611 278
habeck(at)ascenion.de

Hanover:
T +49 511 5328 921
cordes(at)ascenion.de

Neuherberg:
T +49 89 3187 2850
scheek(at)ascenion.de

Ascenion GmbH, www.ascenion.de