54688 (NYSE:ADH)
Industry: Healthcare
Adherex Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of different cancer therapeutics using both its cadherin-based biotechnology platform and more traditional pharmaceutical development. The Company has multiple product candidates in the clinical stage of development: ADH-1, a molecularly targeted compound directed against N-cadherin; Eniluracil, an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD); Sodium thiosulfate (STS) is a chemoprotectant; N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a bone marrow protectant, and Mesna, a chemoenhancer. In July 2005, the Company entered into a license and development agreement with GSK covering two drugs, eniluracil and ADH-1 (Exherin). The agreement included the in-license of GSK's oncology product, eniluracil, by Adherex and an option for GSK to license Adherex's lead biotechnology compound, ADH-1. The Company also has several preclinical product candidates targeted to enter clinical development over the next several years. Its drug discovery and development efforts are supported by more than 40 issued United States patents and more than 50 pending patents worldwide that it either owns or has licensed. The Company's preclinical pipeline includes backup peptides and small chemical molecule successors to ADH-1; molecules targeted to inhibiting the metastatic spread of some cancers, and peptides that combine both angiolytic and anti-angiogenic properties. Adherex Technologies and its collaborators are conducting preclinical studies on several of these molecules in order to select the suitable candidates to move into clinical trials. It has developed a range of peptide antagonists for an array of different cadherin molecules, which will be used to select other drug candidates to move into clinical development, particularly in three areas: Small molecule N-cadherin antagonists, OB-cadherins and VE-cadherin. ADH-1 ADH-1 is a small peptide molecule, which selectively targets N-cadherin present on certain tumor cells and the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor. Pursuant to a general collaboration agreement, McGill granted the Company worldwide license to certain intellectual property rights relating to ADH-1 and certain uses thereof. In the Company's Phase I studies, radiologic changes consistent with areas of cell death (either by apoptosis or necrosis) have been seen following administration of ADH-1. ADH-1 has not been shown to adversely impact normal healthy cells within the body. Some of the Company's preclinical studies on animal models have demonstrated that within 30 minutes of ADH-1 administration, there is leakage of blood from tumor vessels into the substance of the tumor and a reduction in the tumor blood supply, and either directly or indirectly, anti-tumor activity which leads in some cases to the death of cancer cells. Eniluracil Eniluracil, which was previously under development by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is being developed by Adherex to enhance the therapeutic value and effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). 5- FU is an anticancer agent and a first line therapy for colorectal, breast, gastric, head and neck, and ovarian cancers and basal cell cancer of the skin. Normally, 5-FU is broken down in the body by an enzyme known as dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). Eniluracil irreversibly inhibits DPD, thereby substantially slowing the breakdown of 5-FU and prolonging exposure of the tumor cells to the drug. In December 2005, Adherex Technologies received orphan drug designation in the United States for the use of eniluracil in combination with fluoropyrimidines for the treatment of liver cancer. Fluoropyrimidines include 5-FU and other 5-FU prodrugs. Sodium Thiosulfate STS is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans as part of a treatment for cyanide poisoning. The Company has licensed from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) intellectual property rights for the use of STS as a chemoprotectant, and intend to develop STS as a protectant against he
As Of: 10/07 00:00 ET
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