Columbia University’s Science & Technology Ventures (STV) has signed a license agreement with spinout Stockbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to commercialize a novel small molecule-based approach for the targeted treatment of various cancers that was developed in collaboration with the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. The licensed technology is the result of a collaboration between the laboratories of Argiris Efstratiadis, professor of genetics and development at Columbia, and David Berkowitz, professor of chemistry at the University of Nebraska. STV helped to negotiate a partnership agreement between the two universities and facilitated the formation of Stockbridge Pharmaceuticals to further develop the therapy. The company will explore the use of small molecules that inhibit a particular protein receptor involved in a cell-signaling pathway that has been shown to play a major role in inhibiting programmed cell death — including the death of abnormal, cancerous cells. The intact function of this pathway is a precondition for malignancy. Initial studies of the therapy in a mouse model of basal-like breast cancer tumors demonstrated significant shrinkage of tumor mass. Since these cancers generally have a poor prognosis, and therapeutic options are limited, human trials of a lead drug may begin in as few as 18 months.

Go to: Interest Alert Chronicle

Posted February 18th, 2009 under Tech Transfer

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