Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, announced that the Japanese Patent Office has issued a patent for its novel anti-cancer compound, Archexin. As per the claim by the company, Archexin is a first in class, potent inhibitor of Akt protein kinase in the treatment of cancer.
The AKT pathway is an important therapeutic target for cancer drug discovery as it functions as a main point for transducing extracellular and intracellular oncogenic signals. Moreover, alternations of the AKT pathway have been found in a wide range of cancers. Akt regulates signal processes of cell proliferation and survival, angiogenesis, and drug resistance in cancer. Archexin is being developed to treat solid tumors and has FDA Orphan drug designation for RCC, pancreatic, stomach, glioblastoma, and ovarian cancers. Archexin is in Phase II clinical development for pancreatic cancer as lead indication.
Archexin(R) was fromerly named as RX-0201, is an oligonucleotide compound that inhibits the expression of human Akt-1. I am really happy for this approval because, in my opinion this will boost the new field of drugs (ologonucleotides/antisense). I have covered some developments in this field, those interested can read earlier articles...
"the Japanese patent award is another step forward in the development of one of our lead clinical drug candidates, Archexin;” said Dr. Chang Ahn, Rexahn’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to strengthening our intellectual property portfolio, we are pleased with the progress of Archexin’s ongoing Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Patient enrollment continues at multiple sites in the US and abroad and we expect to have preliminary results in the fourth quarter of 2010"....
"the Japanese patent award is another step forward in the development of one of our lead clinical drug candidates, Archexin;” said Dr. Chang Ahn, Rexahn’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to strengthening our intellectual property portfolio, we are pleased with the progress of Archexin’s ongoing Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Patient enrollment continues at multiple sites in the US and abroad and we expect to have preliminary results in the fourth quarter of 2010"....
Ref : http://www.rexahn.com/cms/index.php/2010/03/rexahn-issued-japanese-patent-for-anti-cancer-compound-archexin/
2 comments:
As interesting as they are- discovery is easy part. Cellular Delivery of these molecules...is another story. Many grave yards have been built in the area of antisense. ISIS (got burned after their CMV compound failed which is an antisense analog) and currently siRNA are suffering from the similar woes. Eventually, these analogs/technology functions only as a tool for drug discovery.
I understand ur concern and the failure of cytomegalovirus retinitis drug. But Companies like Geron and other (over 63) companies, have achieved some significant achievement in this field. As per a market report "there are nearly 83 product candidates and an analysis of 320 oligonucleotide-related US patents", so let us be optimistic...
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