Advanced Life Sciences to License Promising Technology
from Argonne National Laboratory
Early stage proteomic investigation to focus on prevention
of diseases such as Alzheimer's, type-2 diabetes
Woodridge, Ill, May 21, 2003 - Advanced Life Sciences (ALS) has
licensed a promising proteomics-based technology from Argonne
National Laboratory, announced Michael T. Flavin, Ph.D., ALS's
chief executive officer. The license involves a compound called
ALS-499 that has demonstrated activity in the laboratory toward
inhibiting amyloid protein aggregation that is characteristic
of the development of several diseases, including Alzheimer's
and type-2 diabetes.
"We believe this technology has significant potential. It
will strengthen our inflammation-fighting drug portfolio and provide
us with a platform from which we can develop new drugs that may
prevent a number of significant diseases," said Dr. Flavin.
"Our scientists have been working in collaboration with Argonne
for several years. Our joint research led to the discovery of
this interesting compound that will enhance our R&D program
in inflammation therapeutics."
Argonne, in collaboration with ALS and the University of Chicago,
has been studying the biophysical foundations of amyloid formation
for some time and ALS-499 was discovered during the course of
that research. The field of protein aggregation focuses on what
happens when proteins in the body clump together in ways that
cause disease.
"We were surprised to discover that ALS-499 blocked aggregation
of a variety of proteins that can lead to several debilitating
diseases," said Fred Stevens, Ph.D., senior biophysicist
at Argonne National Laboratory. "We believe the compound
holds substantial potential in terms of its ability to prevent
diseases involving faulty protein aggregation."
Under the terms of the license agreement, ALS will have exclusive
worldwide rights to commercialize ALS-499, as well as the platform
technology as a method for preventing amyloid fibril formation.
ALS-499 will immediately advance into early stage laboratory investigation
under ALS stewardship. If this compound continues to prove its
effectiveness in this setting, it is likely to be slated for clinical
trials within a few years.
Advanced Life Sciences is a privately held biopharmaceutical
company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization
of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, cancer and
inflammation using its platform in natural products and chemical
proteomics coupled with expertise in drug development. (www.advancedlifesciences.com)
America's first national laboratory, Argonne, is operated by
the University of Chicago as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's
national laboratory system. (www.anl.gov)
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