Image credit- pharmaceutical-journal.com
AUM Biosciences (AUM), a Singapore headquartered oncology-focused biotechnology company, has licensed its first novel, highly selective anti-cancer drug, ETC-206 , from A*STAR's Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC). The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology.
AUM has licensed the global rights to develop, commercialise and manufacture ETC-206 in all indications. ETC-206 was discovered and developed through a collaboration between A*STAR 's Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) and Duke NUS Medical School (a partnership between Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore). It advanced into first-in-man trials in December 2016. Initial clinical studies suggest that ETC-206 is very well tolerated and could be used as a therapy across a range of liquid and solid tumour types.
The drug promises a more targeted approach by inhibiting the Mnk enzyme in cancer cells, which is a key player in promoting cancer growth when activated. This could lower mortality rates for cancer and improve quality of life for cancer patients compared to traditional chemotherapy, which kills cells in a less specific fashion and affects more than just the cancer cells.
ETC-206 is the first in AUM's pipeline of novel targeted therapies with the potential to be developed both independently and in combination with other therapies. The drug's ability to isolate and target only cancerous cells promises a breakthrough opportunity globally.
