SYDNEY, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Novogen Limited
(NASDAQ: NVGN, ASX: NRT;), an oncology drug development company,
today announced a collaboration with Australian company, Genea
Biocells, to accelerate testing of their super-benzopyran (SBP)
drugs for degenerative diseases of the nervous system and
muscles.
Preliminary research conducted by both companies found that
super-benzopyrans appear to be effective at promoting the
'normalization' of stem cells associated with some forms of
neurodegeneration and muscular dystrophy, genetic disorders which
result in progressive deterioration of brain function or muscle
strength and function.
"SBPs have already been shown to be highly effective at killing
cancer stem cells, which were previously considered resistant to
anti-cancer therapy. But in some of our studies, we found in
certain instances, some of these drugs actually appeared to
normalise both the behaviour and appearance of the cancer cells. It
was that observation that set us on the path to testing their
ability to do the same thing with stem cells carrying genetic
disorders," said Dr. Graham Kelly,
CEO of Novogen.
Genea Biocells is a world leader in the field of embryonic stem
cells with genetic disorders. The cells have been sourced from
embryos donated by couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation and
pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD enables the genetic
testing of embryos before they are implanted to make sure babies
born are not affected by a genetic disease. Genea is using those
stem cell lines to test compounds to identify potential clinical
development candidates.
"Super-benzopyrans are the first drug class we have seen with
the ability to selectively modulate misbehaving stem cells," said
Dr. Uli Schmidt, General Manager of
Genea Biocells.
"Effected embryos identified during the PGD process cannot be
used for implantation but can instead be donated by patients to
develop stem cell lines carrying the genetic disease. These
disease-specific cell lines can now be used to test the
effectiveness of exciting new compounds that are thought to
counteract the disease. The testing of new molecules on individual
stem cells holds great promise in the pursuit of new therapies,"
Dr. Schmidt said. "The collaboration with Novogen opens up an
entirely new opportunity for the development of therapies for some
of the most debilitating and life-threatening diseases and
disorders in children and adults."
Novogen will partner with Genea Biocells to test the molecules
in laboratory models across a range of degenerative diseases
including infantile neuraxonal dystrophy, fascioscapularhumeral
dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease),
Sanfillipo syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease.
The collaboration is on the basis of pooling respective
resources, with each company retaining its own intellectual
property rights and commercial opportunities.
About Novogen
Novogen is a public, Australian
biotechnology company whose shares trade on both the Australian
Securities Exchange ('NRT') and NASDAQ ('NVGN'). The Company
is based in Sydney, Australia, and
with a U.S. office in New Haven,
Connecticut. The Company has two main drug technology
platforms known as super-benzopyrans (SBP) and anti-tropomyosins
(ATM). SBP drugs target cancer stem cells and are being developed
for the treatment of ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. ATM drugs
target the cancer cell cytoskeleton and are being developed for the
treatment of melanoma, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and
neuroblastoma. Novogen has entered into a joint venture with
Yale University known as CanTx Inc.
with the aim of developing an intra-peritoneal product for cancers
such as ovarian cancer that are limited to the abdomen.
Further information is available on the Company's website,
www.novogen.com.
About Genea Biocells
Genea Biocells Pty Ltd develops
unique human stem cell tools to advance research and drug discovery
in areas of unmet medical need. Genea Biocells offeres specialized
contract research services and custom-developed, cell-based assay
solutions in drug development. It also supplies application-ready,
disease-affected and control differentiated cell types as well as
culture media and pluripotent stem cell lines.
Contact
In the USA
Lazar
Partners
David Carey (investors)
Hollister Hovey/Allison Parks (media)
+1 212-867-1762
Novogen@lazarpartners.com
In Australia and
ROW
Instinctif Partners
Dr. Douglas Pretsell (Australia)
+61 (0)3 9657 0706
Sue Charles/Stefanie Bacher (ROW)
+44 (0)20 7457 2020
Novogen@instinctif.com
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SOURCE Novogen Limited