Gemin X Presents Discovery of Novel Bcl-2 Inhibitor as Anticancer Agent at Conference on Differentiation Therapy
- Compound Represents Major Advance in Apoptosis Research -
Montreal, QC — October 6, 1999 — Researchers from Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc. today announced the discovery of a small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, which represents a novel approach to treating cancer. Bcl-2 is an intracellular suppressor of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The discovery is a major advance in the understanding of how modulation of Bcl-2 can be utilized to treat cancer. Dr. Gordon Shore of McGill University and Gemin X, presenting at the 8th International Conference on Differentiation Therapy, reported data on the compound, GX011, which interacts with Bcl-2 in cancer cells to re-instate the normal cell death process. GX011 is the product of Gemin X's significant scientific expertise and drug discovery technology and represents a novel class of drug candidates that, in preclinical studies, selectively destroy cancer cells.
" Today's presentation is a demonstration of our advanced understanding of apoptosis and how intervention into a cancer cell's survival mechanisms may allow us to specifically target cancer cells and not destroy healthy tissues," said Gordon Shore, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry at McGill University and Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Gemin X. "Although it is accepted that Bcl-2 plays a key role in allowing cancer cells to survive, historically Bcl-2 has been an elusive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches to cancer. We developed GX011 and its analogs based on our unique insights into Bcl-2 protein-protein interactions. The data presented today provide the basis for moving this compound rapidly toward clinical evaluation."
Apoptosis is a normal biological process that protects the body from abnormal cells. Because apoptosis destroys the entire cell, it protects surrounding cells and tissues from damage. Bcl-2 is a member of a family of genes that regulate apoptosis in the cell. In the case of cancer, Bcl-2 overrides the normal cell death, or apoptotic process, allowing cancer cells to survive and multiply. Current chemotherapy regimens for treating cancer are further complicated by Bcl-2, which may cause cancer cells to become resistant to chemotherapy. Specific cancers that demonstrate overproduction of Bcl-2 include breast, colorectal and hormone-resistant prostate cancer.
"The discovery of this proprietary and novel class of drugs is a significant validation of Gemin X's drug discovery platform," said Dan Giampuzzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gemin X. "To date, GX011 has demonstrated the ability to specifically reverse the inhibition of apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Based on these studies, we anticipate entering GX011 into clinical trials near the end of 2000. This compound may provide an exciting new method for treating many major cancers."
In studies presented today, Dr. Shore described the intracellular proteins that interact with Bcl-2. By understanding the molecular chain of events that leads to suppression of apoptosis, researchers were able to screen for compounds that interacted specifically with Bcl-2 and stopped it from interfering with apoptosis. In living cells, researchers confirmed that the small molecule specifically inhibited Bcl-2 to reinstate apoptosis in cancer cells and not in normal cells. Using this knowledge, the researchers discovered GX011, which met all screening criteria for a compound to initiate apoptosis in cancer cells.
Dr. Frank Fitzpatrick, Professor and Chief of Pharmacology at the Huntsman Cancer Center, Utah, and contributor to the research noted, "Bcl-2 is an important drug target for cancer. GX011 has the potential to be a highly specific compound and to offer significant advantages for treating tumors that are not responsive to conventional therapy."
Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc., located in Montréal, Québec, specializes in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics that modulate apoptosis. The Company's initial focus is on the development of two types of cancer therapeutics, including the use of small molecule drugs and viral death proteins to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The Company maintains a significant patent portfolio covering its core technologies in apoptosis.
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