ProtoKinetix Inc. - Krebsbekämpfung mit Proteinen - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

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Wer hat sich schon mal mit ProtoKinetix Inc. beschäftigt?

Hier ein Auszug aus den Infos zum Unternehmen von der ProtoKinetix Website:

Finding a cure for cancer has been a preoccupation of the medical research sector for several decades, and in recent years, significant progress has been made largely thanks to a number of approaches involving molecular engineering.
Recent advances have yet to deliver a cure for cancer, however by zeroing in on tumours with specific antibodies, scientists are having success in at least arresting this deadly disease. They hope to convert cancer from a terminal disease to a chronic disease.

Several companies are involved in the research and development of anti-cancer antibodies. ProtoKinetix has strategically positioned itself in this exciting area by securing licenses and strategic alliances.

Moreover, ProtoKinetix is now making its own headline news in the field of oncology. This is illustrated by the April, 2004 announcement of encouraging preliminary results from the third-party validation trials on receptor alpha fetaprotein (RECAF) molecules. These trials are being conducted at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in France, which is one of the foremost medical institutions in Europe with one of the most advanced cancer research centres in the world.

Dr. Jean-Marie Dupuy, a ProtoKinetix advisor and a recent appointment to the board of directors, termed the results “very positive,” adding that the labelling of the malignant cells was strong and clear, with a distinct delineation between malignant and normal cells. That is a promising development at this early stage, but a closer look at ProtoKinetix and its chosen field will provide a clearer picture of the company’s potential.

ProtoKinetix started trading under its new name and symbol in August, 2003. The Company’s mission is to develop effective biological therapies for the treatment of malignancies. By utilising a select group of subcontractors with cutting edge technologies, ProtoKinetix will focus on the engineering of high potency, resilient antibodies resulting in vastly enhanced therapeutic impact.

A quick overview should provide investors with a good indication of the opportunities that the company hopes to exploit.

Simply stated, an antibody is a protein that is created by one’s own body to fight a foreign substance and different antibodies are required to fight each unique germ or other invader. Monoclonal antibodies are mass produced identical antibodies produced in a laboratory. A highly specific antibody will attack only its designated target.

It is because of that trait that monoclonal antibodies are playing an important role in the war against cancer. Conventional pharmaceutical cancer treatments such as chemotherapy are often highly toxic, attacking healthy cells and tissue, as well as the malignant tumours. As monoclonal antibodies target only the specific tumour cells that they were designed to attack, the treatment is relatively non-toxic and results in far fewer undesirable side effects.

As therapeutic drugs, monoclonal antibodies are already responsible for more product approvals and pending approvals in recent years than any other sector of the biotechnology industry. ProtoKinetix’ business strategy centers on the modification of monoclonal antibodies to improve their potency. In turn, this improves their effectiveness in fighting foreign invaders such as cancer cells.

Based on early successes with its validation trials, a key part of ProtoKinetix’s scientific strategy will involve an attempt to create a “super-antibody” that will attach itself to RECAF molecules. Alpha fetaprotein is a carbohydrate molecule that is located on the surface of cancer cells. RECAF molecules with an attached “super-antibody” would theoretically attach themselves to the cancer cells, while causing little or no harm to non-cancerous cells.

The RECAF technology is patented by BioCurex Inc. ProtoKinetix has an exclusive, world wide license to use the RECAF™ receptor in conjunction with the super antibody technology and with the catalytic antibody platform.
Researchers have known about Monoclonal antibodies for more than 25 years but much of the current interest in the field has gathered momentum within the past decade. This follows on the heels of the approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration of Rituxan as a “breakthrough blockbuster” cancer treatment in 1997. Since then, Idec and Genentech’s sales of Rituxan have grown exponentially, reaching US $818-million in 2001 and an extraordinary US $1.49-billion in 2003.

The Rituxan success story and the opportunities offered by further developments in monoclonal antibodies have resulted in some high valuations for a variety of biotechnology companies in recent years. It is therefore no surprise that there are now a large number of companies hopping aboard the monoclonal antibody bandwagon. This scenario makes ProtoKinetix’s business plan all the more compelling.
Late last year, ProtoKinetix signed an agreement with Perigene Inc., awarding that company a contract to conduct research into the development of a catalytic antibody against the RECAF receptor site. Perigene acquired the rights to what is known as abzyme technology from the University of Compiegne in France. The work is scheduled to begin after the completion of encouraging validation trials being conducted at the George Pompidou Hospital.

The recent positive news from the trials appears to be an important milestone development. The validation trials are designed to confirm the existence of a receptor site that is unique to cancer cells that will bind the molecule alpha fetaprotein. A member of ProtoKinetix’s scientific advisory board, Dr. Ricardo Moro, has demonstrated that the presence of alpha fetaprotein in the human body can be a non-specific indicator of the presence of cancer. Dr. Moro and ProtoKinetix believe that the RECAF receptor site exists as a specific receptor site for alpha fetaprotein and the positive early results of the validation trials appears to support that belief.

The development of monoclonal antibodies to the highly specific carbohydrate molecule attached to the RECAF protein will allow ProtoKinetix to engineer an antibody that should target and kill malignant cells. Based on the results of the validation trials, ProtoKinetix will generate antibodies to the RECAF receptor site and identify those that do not have a tendency to attack healthy cells. This work will be a key part of the arrangement with Perigene.

According to its business plan, ProtoKinetix is responsible for covering the costs of its various contracts and it will retain all of the product rights that flow from the deals, while granting incentive arrangements and royalties to its contractors. Each contract will involve the early-stage product development, which will then be advanced through contract research organizations that have expertise in clinical development.

Die Aktien werden in Deutschland an der Berliner Börse handelt. WKN: 121605

[GuidoPickert,ValueRelations]

Es gibt geniale Neuigkeiten von ProtoKinetix! In der Pressemeldung ist zu lesen, daß das Unternehmen die Rechte an einer Synthesemethode für ein stabiles Molekül zur Verlängerung der Haltbarkeit von Blutplättchen erworben hat. Das kann bei Blutbanken und bei der Organtransplantation ganz neue Möglichkeiten schaffen.

Hier die Meldung im Original:
ProtoKinetix erwirbt revolutionäre Synthesetechnologie
Haltbarkeit von Blutplättchen kann verlängert werden
Entwicklung profitabler Produkte wird beschleunigt

ProtoKinetix, Inc. (BERLIN: PKD; OTCBB: PKTX), Vancouver, B.C., 29. Juni 2004 - Dr. John Todd, Präsident und CEO von ProtoKinetix, Inc. gibt den Kauf des AFGP-Moleküls (Antifrost Glykoprotein) von der Perigene, Inc. bekannt. AFGP ist ein natürlicher Stoff, der es Fischen, Reptilien und Insekten ermöglicht, bei Temperaturen unter Null überleben zu können. Dr. Jean-Charles Quirion, Mitglied des wissenschaftlichen Beirats von ProtoKinetix und tätig an der Universität von Rouen, Frankreich hat das AFGP-Molekül in einer stabilen Form synthetisiert.

Die Gewinnung des AFGP vom Knochenfisch ist ein schwieriger und kostspieliger Prozess, während die Synthese des Moleküls wegen seiner inhärenten Instabilität sehr schwierig ist. Mit dem patentierten Prozess ist es Dr. Quirion nun möglich, eine stabile Version des AFGP zu synthetisieren, welche die gleichen biologischen Eigenschaften vorweist wie das originale, in der Natur vorkommende Molekül.

AFGP ist ein sehr wertvolles Molekül mit einer Vielzahl potentieller Nutzungsmöglichkeiten. Beispielsweise ermöglicht es den Erhalt von Zellen, Geweben und Organen bei niedrigen Temperaturen. Das kann eine längere Konservierung von Organen und Blutplättchen (Thrombozyten) für eine Transplantation ermöglichen. Unter der Präsenz von AFGP gelagerte Eizellen beispielsweise zeigten bei Reifung, Befruchtung und Entwicklung des Embryos keinen Unterschied zu frisch entnommenen Eizellen.

Die Fähigkeit dieses Moleküls, die Haltbarkeit von Blutplättchen zu verlängern, kann es zu einem Produkt mit großen Potenzial machen. Thrombozyten haben derzeit eine Haltbarkeit von vier Tagen, was sie für Blutbanken und Blutversorgungsgruppen zu einem teuren und schwierigen Produkt macht.

Neben der Forschung an der Konservierung biologischer Moleküle beginnt ProtoKinetix ein Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprogramm zur Ermittlung von Einsatzmöglichkeiten der AFGP Moleküle bei Kühltherapien in der Krebsbehandlung.

Das George Pompidou Krankenhaus führt derzeit unabhängige RECAFTM Tests an einem großen Spektrum von Krebsgeweben durch. Die endgültigen Ergebnisse werden in Kürze erwartet. Auf der Grundlage der bisherigen positiven Ergebnisse, hat das Unternehmen sein Forschungsprogramm der RECAFTM Rezeptoren bei Antikörpern begonnen.

Im Namen des Board of Directors,
Dr. John Todd, Präsident

Adresse Unternehmen:
1500-885 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8

Investorenkontakt:
BCGU, Business Consulting Group Unlimited
www.bcgu.com
International: [phone]
Innerhalb der USA: [phone]