ALM 201: Peptide Inhibitor of Angiogenesis

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http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-...akthrough.html

Professor Tracy Robson from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's explains: "By understanding the anti-angiogenic potential of the natural protein, FKBPL, we have been able to develop small peptide-based drugs that could be delivered to prevent tumour growth by cutting off their blood supply. This is highly effective in models of prostate and breast cancer.
"However, this also has the potential for the treatment of any solid tumour and we're excited about continuing to work with Almac Discovery as this drug enters clinical trials."
Dr Stephen Barr, President and Managing Director of Almac Discovery said: "This is a first class example of a collaboration between a university and industry to produce a novel approach to cancer therapy that has a real chance of helping patients".
The Almac Discovery / Queen's University drug is currently undergoing preclinical development and may provide a first-in-class therapy for targeting tumour angiogenesis by an entirely different pathway to those agents currently approved.

http://www.almacgroup.com/discovery/...-july-2010.pdf

Background: Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is a key mediator of the pathology of solid tumours, and has been the focus of significant interest with several inhibitors of angiogenesis being approved for the treatment of cancer. The VEGF
pathway has proved the most popular target for antiangiogenic therapy to date, however the modest clinical responses, toxicities, problems of resistance, and risks of promoting metastasis with these agents has highlighted the need to exploit alternative mechanisms to limit neovascularisation. ALM201 targets a novel pathway and represents an opportunity
to establish a first in class angiogenesis inhibitor with the potential to broaden therapeutic utility and improve treatment options for cancer patients.


Biology of ALM201
ALM201 is a natural peptide sequence derived from the protein FKBPL. ALM201 acts through the cell surface receptor CD44 to control alignment of microtubules and inhibit migration of vascular endothelial cells, thus preventing formation of new blood vessels.

Development
A stable, pharmaceutically acceptable formulation has been developed for ALM201 which is suitable for subcutaneous injections in humans. ALM201 is currently undergoing safety assessment studies with clinical entry
scheduled for 2011.

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