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The assets involved in the transaction include molecules originallydeveloped by The Proctor and Gamble Company, which were donated in 2003 to UTRfor research at the University of Arizona. The therapeutic agents whichconstitute the portfolio target the replication of the human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV), human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV),influenza virus, herpes viruses, and also include broad based inhibitors ofcancer. Lead compounds from the series for HIV and cancer have already beentested in Phase 1 human clinical trials, while a lead inhibitor of HCV hasprogressed to the submission of an IND application with the FDA. The compoundsinhibit virus replication by a highly unique mechanism of action involvinginhibition of viral RNA transcription and have been found to be safe inextensive toxicological evaluations.
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"These novel inhibitors form the basis of a new strategy to treatinfectious disease by targeting a critical viral replication pathway withinthe infected cell and turning off the production of progeny infectious virus.The therapeutic agents should be highly effective additions to the combinationtherapy regimens currently used to treat infectious disease and of immensebenefit to the millions of individuals chronically infected with organismssuch as HIV and HCV," noted Robert W. Buckheit, Jr., Ph.D., Director ofResearch and Development for Arisyn. "The compounds have proven efficacy andsafety in preclinical studies and have shown significant promise to progressto Phase 1 human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV and cancer."
The continued preclinical and clinical development of the compoundportfolio will be performed by ImQuest BioSciences, a Contract ResearchOrganization located in Frederick, MD specializing in the development of drugsfor the treatment of infectious disease and cancer. ImQuest will performnecessary preclinical and clinical studies and manage the evaluation ofArisyn's compounds in human clinical trials, as well as assist Arisyn with thediscovery of next generation inhibitors of the novel therapeutic targets.
Bo Statham, UTR Manager, said he is very pleased that this promisingtechnology has been assigned to Arisyn, a company that will focus exclusivelyon the development of these drugs.
About UTR
UTR is a limited liability company that was established to benefit theUniversity of Arizona in the development of patents and other technology andto license or otherwise transfer such intellectual property to third parties.
About Arisyn Therapeutics Inc.
Arisyn Therapeutics Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focusedon the clinical development of small molecule therapeutics for infectiousdiseases and cancer. Arisyn's strategy is to develop novel inhibitors withunique mechanisms of action for chronic diseases without effective therapeuticoptions such as HIV, hepatitis, and cancer. Arisyn Therapeutics Inc. is basedin Frederick, Maryland and is on the web at http://www.Arisyn.com.
About ImQuest BioSciences, Inc.
ImQuest BioSciences, a privately held U.S. company located in Frederick,Maryland is a leading provider of anti-infective therapeutic and microbicidedevelopment and anti-cancer services to the biotechnology and pharmaceuticalindustry. ImQuest has broad based capabilitie
