Saturday, September 12, 2009

Promising novel lipid molecule for breast cancer?

New stem cell identification technology could cure breast cancer, Reuters, September 11, 2009. [Twitter entry]. Excerpt:
The key behind GENova's biotechnology is tracing cancer cells to their origin, the very stem cells from where the first malignant cell arose. ...
See also: GENova files patent for new breast cancer treatment, Reuters, September 10, 3009. Excerpt:
... The technology behind Tetanolic acid involved identifying specific characteristics of these cancer stem cells and then tailoring a lipid (Tetanolic acid) that can identify these characteristics and then attack the malignant cells whilst leaving healthy cells intact. This tailor-made cancer treatment strategy is far superior to any existing therapies, as it terminates the cancer at the source, with no side effects, and no harm to surrounding healthy tissues.
From the Pipeline section of the website of GENova Biotherapeutics:
Tetanolic acid: Promising novel lipid molecule for breast cancer
Known as an alpha hydroxyoleic acid, tetanolic acid is a form of a lipid which is also found as a main component of olive oil. Alpha hydroxyoleic acids are able to interact with the cell membrane in order to control its composition or structure with affect on the receptors on the membrane. This control mechanism affects the growth and proliferation of cells – and seeing that cancer is characterised as a normal proliferation of cells, these lipids can potentially prevent cancer spread (Ohba et al., 2007 Int. J. Cancer 121 (1)).
Tests have been shown that such analogues of oleic acid are able to prevent the growth and spread of cancers, including breast cancer, in mice. That is why GENova's Tetanolic acid is a candidate for development of an anti-cancer medicament in humans.
The reference is to: Oleamide derivatives suppress the spontaneous metastasis by inhibiting connexin 26 by Yusuke Ohba and 14 co-authors, including Hiroshi Nojima, Int J Cancer 2007(Jul 1); 121(1): 47-54. [PubMed Citation].

For recent background information, see: Form 10-Q for GENOVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC., Yahoo Finance, August 14, 2009. Excerpts:
From inception, Kinder Travel Inc. had been a travel agency offering a full range of travel services including corporate travel, vacations, cruise holidays, and group tours. Since Kinder Travel Inc. was incurring continued losses in the travel industry, the Board of Directors decided it was in the best interests of the Corporation to pursue other business opportunities. Through his past contacts in the bio-medical industry, the then President of Kinder Travel Inc. initiated negotiations with Phoinos Oxford Lifesciences Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis ("Phoinis Oxford"), for the purchase of medical patents for the treatment of prostate and breast cancers. On April 15, 2009, Kinder Travel Inc. entered into an asset purchase agreement dated April 15, 2009 (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") with Phoinos Oxford.
The Company subsequently changed its to "Genova Biotherapeutics Inc." Our shares of common stock now trade on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol "GVBP.OB".
For details about the sale of medical patents (filed in Denmark and the United Kingdom) by Phoinos Oxford Lifesciences to Kinder Travel, Inc. (renamed GENova Biotherapeutics Inc.), see: Kinder Travel, Inc. Form PRER14C, June 17, 2009.

A recent clarification: GENova issues clarifying press release, Bloomberg.com, September 12, 2009. Excerpt:
GENova owns the rights to a range of drug targets and has filed patent application for all of them. The patents have not yet been approved and are therefore considered 'patents-pending'. It has been brought to GENova's attention that previous releases were not entirely clear on this issue and may have been misconstrued by some investors.
Comment: A PubMed search and a Google Scholar search didn't yield any additional information about tetanolic acid. A Google search for "tetanolic acid for the treatment of breast cancer" did reveal that NextGen Bioscience Inc. acquired tetanolic acid in November of 2007, but that, while still owning tetanolic acid, was in financial difficulties by February of 2008. This company's website is not online at present. I've not been able to find information online about the transfer of ownership if tetanolic acid from NextGen Bioscience Inc. to Phoinos Oxford Lifesciences Ltd., the seller of tetanolic acid to GENova Biotherapeutics (see above).

A recent publication that may also be relevant is: Pivotal role of dihydrofolate reductase knockdown in the anticancer activity of 2-hydroxyoleic acid by Victoria Lladó and 7 co-authors, including John E Halver and Xavier Busquets, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2009(Aug 18); 106(33): 13754-8 [Epub 2009(Aug 3)]. [PubMed Citation][ Full text].

3 comments:

  1. http://foxyurl.com/uTd
    patents and execs are all from Nextgen Biosciences… trying to recycle old intellectual property business model that failed before by slapping on a new name. don’t be suckered into buying the stock just to have the rug pulled out from under you! STAY AWAY!

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