University of Virginia researchers Kevin R. Lynch and Timothy L. Macdonald have launched a spin-out to develop novel therapeutic compounds they developed aimed at arresting tumor growth. The compounds affect the signaling molecule lysophosphatidic acid, blocking the growth of new blood vessels that are key to the spread and survival of tumors. The researchers hope to use the compounds to create drugs for treating patients with solid tumors, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer as well as pulmonary fibrosis and neuropathic pain. Their technology was licensed back to the start-up, Catena Pharmaceuticals, by the UVA Patent Foundation. “Solid tumors, as they grow, must attract new blood vessels; if they don’t, they die,” said Lynch. “The idea of treating cancer with a drug that blocks the growth of new blood vessels has been around for several decades. Reducing that concept to practice, however, has proven extremely difficult.” The Patent Foundation has filed five patent applications on the inventors’ lysophosphatidic acid-targeted compounds in the U.S. and internationally. Catena has already obtained seed financing from Golden Pine Ventures to launch its product development efforts. Go to: UVa Today

Posted October 15th, 2008 under Tech Transfer

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