Oncolin Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB: OCOL) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs which interfere with the key mechanisms of cancer tumor development. The company engages in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel selective anticancer therapies. The company has a lead drug for brain cancer in preclinical development licensed from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Oncolin is focused on the development of this drug to clinical development with an IND scheduled to be filed in approximately 18 months [ Investigational New Drug (application to the FDA) ]. The company also has a robust pipeline of oncology research programs that are mainly funded by Federal grants.
Lead Technology Shown to Be Effective in Treating Cancer in Animal Models
Oncolin announced in mid April that one of its lead drug candidates has shown in preclinical testing that it extends the life of animals that have human tumors implanted in their brains. The early testing has yielded results in animals that are equivalent to that of Temodar�, which is one of the leading cancer treatments for brain cancer with annual revenues in excess of $500 million annually. This technology is covered under Oncolin�s recent exclusive option to license from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson.
In further studies it was determined that the administration of a combination of our compound with Temodar� produces superior anti-tumor activity when compared to Temodar� alone, resulting in increased survival.
“Even though these tests are very early stage they have generated some very positive results which validate our theory of this treatment. We are continuing to undertake and complete the preclinical studies required for a goal of beginning a phase I trial by the beginning of 2009,” said Dr. Donald Picker, President and COO.
Lead Cancer Technology Presented at the Annual Meeting of The American Association for Cancer Research
A poster representing Oncolin’s lead cancer technology was presented at the annual meeting of The American Association for Cancer Research held in San Diego, CA on April 15. This is one of the most prestigious and important cancer meetings held yearly with over 25,000 attendees from a national and international group of oncologists and cancer researchers.
The poster presented, abstract #3359, was from the AACR proceedings, volume 49, April 2008, entitled “2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-D-mannose induces type II cell death in gliomas.” In this poster data is presented on novel sugar analogs that show positive activity against energy starved tumors, in particular glioma cell lines, and induce cell death for these tumor cells. This data provides additional proof that targeting energetic metabolism of cancer cells using inhibitors of glycolysis is a promising approach to the treatment of tumors that depend on glycolysis for survival. Oncolin retains rights to these compounds and others through an agreement with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Exclusive Worldwide Right to Option Patents
Oncolin announced at the beginning of April that it had obtained an exclusive worldwide right to option patents covering the composition and use of Genistein analogs for cancer treatment. The technology was discovered and patented by the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Warsaw Poland and involves compounds that appear to be novel antimicrotubule agents.
Given the widespread success of antimicrotubule therapies in curative and palliative cancer treatment, the microtubule is perhaps the single best cancer target identified to date and continues to be recognized as a strategic target against which to direct new development efforts.
The approved drugs from this mechanistic class include the Vinca alkaloids such as vincristine, the taxanes with paclitaxel and docetaxel and the epothilones with its first drug recently approved by Bristol Myers. Each of these different types of compound classes appear to interact at different parts of the microtubule and have different spectrums of activity and show effectiveness against resistant disease.
Research Programs
Oncolin is involved in three active research programs. These programs are funded primarily by peer-reviewed National Institute of Health (NIH) grants. The most recent grant from the NIH amounted to $179,000 to support research on thermally targeted delivery of Doxorubicin. The company is in negotiation with one of the world�s leading cancer institutes, the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Warsaw, Poland and has obtained worldwide right to patent for the use and composition of Genistein analogs. These programs provide a potential source of future drug candidates.