Molecular LogiX  A rational way to create new drugs

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Text Box:   Text Box: Molecular LogiX is using its proprietary Dominant Negative Ligand Drug Discovery System to identify new drug leads.  The company is developing a new, first-in-class drug candidate to treat cancer. It has the potential to be the first in a series of new, more effective drugs for the treatment of both common and particularly lethal forms of cancer.   A drug discovery engine We have developed a unique strategy to “re-design” human proteins involved in pathologic receptor activation, our Dominant Negative Ligand (DNL) Drug Discovery System.  This proprietary approach to turning human proteins into drug-like antagonists involves sophisticated protein modeling, protein engineering and laboratory optimization of the new proteins. The explosion in the number of protein crystal structures in the Protein Data Base (over 45,000) and of molecular biology and genetics tools allows us to make very rapid progress on the re-design, testing, optimization and validation of new biologics.  A lead compound   Molecular LogiX’ lead compound, a Pan-HER Anti-Cancer Ligand, is in the optimization stage prior to kicking off an intensive preclinical development campaign.  It is the first in a series of new therapeutics we are developing based on the output of our DNL Drug Discovery System.   Our most advanced compound, the “Pan-HER ACL” is:   A “re-engineered” version of the human Epidermal Growth Factor (hEGF). An entirely new class of compounds aimed at the most important molecular target in cancer, the Human Epidermal Receptors (HER) family of receptors.  Based on a unique, clinically–validated molecular mechanism. Can potentially complement or replace current therapeutics such as TarcevaTM, ErbituxTM and HerceptinTM, whose combined annual sales exceed $3.6 billion and are expected to exceed $6 billion by 2010. The first in a new class of therapeutics with the potential for substantially superior properties compared to current drugs.  The Pan-HER ACL represents an entirely new approach to interfering with HER-dependent cancer. Recent disappointing results with monoclonal antibodies (such as Amgen’s Vectibix panitumumab) and acquired tumor resistance to small molecule drugs (like Tarceva) have demonstrated the acute un-met medical need for new drugs aimed at this family of receptors. Our Pan-HER ACL is the only agent with the potential to interfere with the entire HER axis.  It represents the next generation in cancer drugs and opens an entirely new front in the war against cancer.  The drug represents a breakthrough in molecular targeting therapeutics and has the potential to disrupt the current small molecule/monoclonal antibody hold on this important and lucrative therapeutic area. We have good reason to be optimistic about the prospects for our new Dominant Negative Ligands. The therapeutic use of growth factor variants as receptor antagonists was clinically validated in 2003 with the approval of Pfizer’s acromegaly drug Somavert™, an analog of human growth hormone (hGH) that was structurally altered to act as an hGH receptor antagonist.  We are extending this strategy into the fight against other diseases, primarily cancer. The Pan-HER ACL is in the optimization stage leading up to the start of pre-clinical development.  We demonstrated EGFR antagonism in vitro and in vivo (mouse xenograft model) with earlier generations of the protein (directed solely at EGFR rather than all the ligand-dependent HER receptors, which is our current target).  We have been engaged in an extensive affinity maturation campaign (using rationally-designed gene libraries and phage display) to optimize binding of the Pan-HER compound and to ensure broad IP coverage.      A Pipeline The second target of our DNL Drug Discovery System is a dominant negative version of the Insulin-like growth Factor I (IGF-I).  The IGF-I Receptor has been implicated in the progression of a number of important cancers.  This represents a very important unmet medical need - there is no approved drug aimed specifically at this target. This work is supported by a new SBIR grant from the NIH.   The DNL Drug Discovery Systems can provide us with a steady supply of new product candidates.  The significant interest by the NIH and industry in our IGF-I ACL validates the clinical relevance of this target and the potential of the DNL Drug Discovery System. We have identified other excellent candidates for the DNL Discovery System and intend to begin work on them in the coming months.

Text Box: 4200 Research Forest Drive Suite 120    |    The Woodlands, TX 77381    |    Phone: 281-298-9280