On February 29, 2016 Onxeo S.A. (Euronext Paris, NASDAQ Copenhagen: ONXEO), an innovative company specializing in the development of orphan oncology therapeutics, reported that it has reached an agreement to acquire DNA Therapeutics, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, for its signal-interfering DNA (siDNA) repair technology, which is directed at overcoming cancer resistance mechanisms, and includes lead product candidate DT01 (Press release, Onxeo, FEB 29, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515571]). The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close by the end of March 2016.

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The acquisition of DNA Therapeutics continues to demonstrate Onxeo’s commitment to developing novel orphan oncology drugs that position the Company at the forefront of scientific research for rare cancers with high, unmet medical needs, and have the potential to generate significant value for the Company and its stakeholders by opening other indications and markets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Onxeo is acquiring DNA Therapeutics for an upfront payment of €1.7 million in common shares at deal closing. Additional payment will come in the form of milestones including €1 million in cash or in ONXEO shares, at ONXEO’s sole discretion, upon successful initiation of a Phase II trial in a selected indication as well as royalty payments on future commercial sales, up to €25 million per indication developed and approved.

In conjunction with the transaction, in parallel with the contribution in kind, a large part of DNA Therapeutics’ historical shareholders have agreed to invest €1 million in cash in Onxeo shares, showing their full support to Onxeo to take over the development of the siDNA technology.

Interview of Judith Greciet: View Source,2292.html

The signal-interfering DNA (siDNA) innovation

Through DNA Therapeutics, Onxeo is acquiring a first-in-class clinical signal-interfering DNA (siDNA) molecule breaking the cycle of tumor DNA repair while sparing healthy cells. The siDNA technology offers a potential new treatment option for patients suffering from various types of cancer.

A first-in-human Phase 1/2a trial performed in metastatic melanoma demonstrated that siDNA molecules showed good tolerance and safety when administered intra-tumorally and subcutaneously around the tumors. Onxeo now plans to initate the development of this first-in-class product by the systemic route, and to assess their safety and tolerance in monotherapy and in combination with other DNA-damaging agents in various solid tumors. This clinical development will be implemented after first optimizing the manufacturing process, set to start as soon as the deal closes.

Judith Greciet, CEO of Onxeo, commented: "The acquisition of DNA Therapeutics and its siDNA technology represents a significant milestone for Onxeo. We are excited about this opportunity, which, based on its differentiated mechanism of action to fight cancer, will be significant in strengthening the level of innovation in our orphan oncology portfolio and instrumental in delivering value for our shareholders. The development of new agents specifically targeting DNA repair while sparing healthy tissues is imperative in the treatment of many solid tumors. Based on preclinical findings, we plan to evaluate the product in orphan oncology indications where a systemic application is suitable and for which there is significant unmet need, for example triple-negative breast cancer and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer".

Update on Validive further steps

Over the course of 2015, Onxeo has continued to advance the clinical development of Validive and notably its validation by the US and European regulatory agencies. Despite recognition from both agencies of Validive’s interest and value to patients, these discussions have confirmed that two Phase 3 clinical trials will be required for registration in the US, which makes the further clinical program significantly longer and more costly than expected. Therefore, the Company has decided it is in the best interest of its shareholders to move forward with this Phase 3 program only with the support of a partner. While actively seeking for such collaboration, Onxeo will continue to promote the scientific value of Validive through presentations at meetings.

"Validive remains a key asset in our orphan oncology pipeline. We have successfully developed the product to date and it is ready to enter Phase 3 as soon as we find the appropriate partner," commented Judith Greciet. "We are particularly excited about the acquisition of DNA Therapeutics and its first-in-class product-candidate which largely complements our core expertise and scientific ambitions. We believe it will be a tremendous addition to our pipeline, creating sound opportunity for short-to-long term milestones, adding value for our shareholders and bringing potentially new treatment options to patients with rare cancers."

About DNA repair

Biological responses to DNA damage and approaches to prevent the repair mechanisms allowing cancer cells to escape treatments have been identified as one of the most promising new avenues in cancer treatment. Most therapies against cancer induce DNA damage to tumor cells. DNA damage can also occur spontaneously in certain types of genetically unstable cancers. Yet cancer cells have the ability to recognize DNA damage and activate multiple DNA repair pathways or proteins to survive damages. These DNA repair processes contribute to cancer aggressiveness and resistance.

About the signal-interfering DNA (siDNA) technology

The siDNA technology developed by DNA Therapeutics, and acquired by Onxeo, breaks the cycle of cancer DNA repair activities by interfering at the core of DNA damage and interfering with multiple repair pathways, while sparing healthy cells. The technology, known as Dbait, was invented by Marie Dutreix, Research Director at The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Jian-Sheng Sun, Professor at The French National Museum of Natural History (Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle) in Paris, and further developed in Dr. Dutreix’s lab at Institut Curie. DNA Therapeutics was formed as a spin-out of the Institut Curie and three other French academic institutions.

The siDNA molecule is a short double-stranded DNA molecule that acts as a decoy, providing a false DNA break signal to attract DNA repair proteins which prevents the recruitment of repair enzymes to the site of actual DNA damage. Cancer cells do not have the ability to stop division in the face of DNA damage; they will continue dividing with the damaged DNA and therefore die. Healthy cells, on the other hand, will halt cell division until the compound is no longer present and damaged DNA can be repaired.

In a variety of preclinical animal models, the siDNA molecule demonstrated an increase in the efficacy of radiotherapy1, radiofrequency ablation2, and chemotherapy3, and has not lead to toxicity with repeated cycles of treatment, making it a promising candidate for both monotherapy and combination therapy. A first-in-human Phase 1/2a trial, "DNA Repair Inhibitor & Irradiation on Melanoma" (DRIIM; NCT01469455), in patients with metastatic melanoma demonstrated the safety of local administration of the product. Additionally, no maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was identified and the product showed excellent tumor response correlated with systemic exposure.

On FEBRUARY 29, 2016 BioMotiv, a drug development accelerator associated with The Harrington Project, and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, reported the formation of a new biotechnology startup, Z53 Therapeutics. Z53 Therapeutics aims to develop novel anti-cancer drugs that target tumors with p53 mutations (Press release, Z53 Therapeutics, FEB 29, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509511]).

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Z53 Therapeutics is based on intellectual property exclusively licensed from Rutgers University and SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., which was developed by the laboratory of scientific founder Darren Carpizo, M.D., Ph.D., Surgical Oncologist at The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The work was done in collaboration with the synthetic chemistry laboratories of Rutgers Translational Sciences, headed by S. David Kimball, Ph.D., Associate Vice President Research Translation and Commercialization, and the biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory of Stewart Loh, Ph.D., at SUNY Upstate.

"I am very excited to collaborate with BioMotiv to advance our research from our initial discoveries and mechanistic work to the identification of compounds that can be used in the clinic to target a wide spectrum of tumors with specific p53 mutations", said Dr. Carpizo.

The p53 protein has been called the "the guardian of the human genome" for its central role in suppressing tumor formation. The gene encoding p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer with a large number of mutations resulting in a defect in the protein’s structure due to an impairment in the ability of the protein to bind zinc (so-called zinc deficient mutant p53). Dr. Carpizo and colleagues discovered that small molecules could restore the normal structure and function to zinc deficient mutant p53. Dr. Carpizo, along with Dr. Loh, went on to elucidate the mechanism of action of these compounds to be a restoration of zinc binding in mutant p53 which they have named "zinc metallochaperones".

Zinc metallochaperones represent a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. "The pharmacologic restoration of structure and function of a mutant protein by the delivery of a metal ion is unprecedented in drug development," said Dr. Carpizo. Together with Drs. Loh and Kimball, the research team has identified novel zinc metallochaperones which will be developed by Z53 Therapeutics. Dr. Carpizo goes on to say, "Targeting mutant p53 with small molecule compounds has been one of the holy grails of drug development, so it is very exciting to be a forefront of this field of research."

Christopher Molloy, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Rutgers, said, "The rapid progress in identifying a biologically active lead chemical series provides validation for Rutgers’ investment in pre-clinical translational research, which is being led by Dr. Kimball. We are pleased that this agreement provides additional resources to allow Dr. Carpizo and our translational sciences team to advance the research on these promising discoveries."

"The discoveries made by Dr. Carpizo have great promise," said Baiju R. Shah, Chief Executive Officer of BioMotiv. "We are looking forward to partnering with him in developing those discoveries in Z53 Therapeutics."

Dr. Carpizo is a Harrington Scholar-Innovator whose work has been supported by the Harrington Discovery Institute of University Hospitals in Cleveland. His laboratory is also funded by the National Cancer Institute, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Foundation, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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About BioMotiv
BioMotiv is the mission-driven accelerator associated with The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a $250 million national initiative for advancing medicine centered at University Hospitals in Cleveland. The focus is to accelerate breakthrough discoveries from research institutions into therapeutics for patients through an innovative model that efficiently aligns capital and collaborations. The company leverages an experienced team and advisory board to select, fund, and actively manage and advance a portfolio of drug development programs.
Learn more at www.biomotiv.com.

About Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university. Established in 1766 and celebrating a milestone 250th anniversary in 2016, the university is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States. More than 67,000 students and 22,000 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world. Rutgers University–New Brunswick is the only public institution in New Jersey represented in the prestigious Association of American Universities. Rutgers is a member of the Big Ten Conference and its academic counterpart, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a consortium of 15 world-class research universities. Rutgers is among the top 30 universities nationally for total R&D funding and last year achieved an 18.3 percent increase in overall funding for research and sponsored programs over the previous year, from $517.6 million in fiscal year 2014 up to $612.5 million in fiscal year 2015. The Office of Research and Economic Development is a central point for industry to access Rutgers and offers a website designed for the business community, www.businessportal.rutgers.edu.

About SUNY Upstate
SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, is the only academic medical center in Central New York and the region’s largest employer with 9,460 employees. Affiliated with the State University of New York and anchored by its four colleges—Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Graduate Studies (biomedical sciences), Upstate’s mission is to improve the health of the community through education, biomedical research and health care. As a biomedical research enterprise, Upstate focuses on the most prevalent human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, nervous system disorders, vision, and infectious diseases. The quest for treatments and cures is built upon expertise in structural, molecular and systems biology. The Upstate University Health System serves 1.8 million people, often the most seriously ill and injured, and includes Upstate University Hospital; Upstate University Hospital at Community Campus; Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, and numerous satellite sites across Upstate New York. Research Administration at Upstate, which includes the Offices of Technology Transfer, Sponsored Programs and Clinical Trials, assists companies interested in licensing new technologies or in working with Upstate researchers or clinicians (View Source).

On February 29, 2016 PeptiMimesis reported the inception and launch of its activities to develop a novel class of therapeutic peptides using a breakthrough technology from the University of Strasbourg and INSERM (French Institute of Health and Medical Research) (Press release, PeptiMimesis, FEB 29, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509510]). PeptiMimesis will now apply this cutting edge approach to a first set of 60 targets including the most promising in the chosen therapeutic areas.

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Over the past 2 years, the techtransfer office SATT Conectus supported the team to develop the technology up to the proof of concept. PeptiMimesis was founded by three academic researchers, each having more than 15 years of experience in the field of transmembrane peptides, and Domain Therapeutics, a drug discovery company with a long and successful track record in targeting membrane receptors.

"This new venture highlights the quality of the incubation phase conducted by SATT Conectus and the high standard of research carried out by the University of Strasbourg and INSERM," said Pascal Neuville, CEO of Domain Therapeutics.

"The creation of PeptiMimesis is the culmination of many years of work developing our technology," said Dr Dominique Bagnard, founder. "With my two long – standing collaborators and co – founders, Dr Gérard Crémel and Dr Pierre Hubert, we are pleased to partner with Domain Therapeutics to develop our research, and launch PeptiMimesis on the road to success."

"Domain Therapeutics is ideally positioned to help bridge the gap between a breakthrough technology developed by a nascent company and the expectations of pharma partners. We strongly believe that our expertise will allow PeptiMimesis’ platform to deliver promising and valuable peptides to answer patient needs," said Pascal Neuville.

About therapeutic peptides
There are more than 60 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved peptide medicines currently on the market. This is expected to grow significantly, with approximately 140 peptide drugs in clinical trials and more than 500 therapeutic peptides in preclinical development. In terms of value, the global peptide drug market is predicted to increase from $14.1Bn ( € 12.1Bn) in 2011 to an estimated $25.4Bn ( € 22.7Bn) in 2018, with an underlying increase in novel innovative peptide drugs from $8.6Bn ( € 7.7Bn) in 2011 (60%) to $17.0Bn ( € 15.2Bn) in 2018 (66%).

About transmembrane therapeutic peptides
Peptides possess key competitive advantages over antibodies such as a faster drug discovery process and a reduced manufacturing cost. In addition, the novel class of peptides developed by PeptiMimesis presents lower immunogenicity as they rapidly set within cellular membranes. The peptides also demonstrate an amplified therapeutic efficacy through indirect inhibition of multiple co – receptors and their associated signalling pathways. This innovative approach relies on the disruption of dimerization of membrane receptors using peptides that interfere with the transmembrane sites of oligomerization.

About PeptiMimesis
Created in October 2015, PeptiMimesis is a biopharmaceutical company based in Strasbourg, France dedicated to the development of transmembrane therapeutic peptides. The company’s proprietary platform delivers a set of drug candidates that act on strategic targets in the field of immuno-oncology, oncology and immune diseases. PeptiMimesis’ business model aims at moving forward internal assets up to a significant value inflexion point before out – licensing them to pharma partners. PeptiMimesis is also looking to establish partnerships on its unique technology with Pharma and Biotechs. www.pep timimesis.com

About Domain Therapeutics
Domain Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Strasbourg, France and Montreal Canada. Domain is dedicated to the discovery and development of drugs targeting transmembrane receptors, including G Protein – Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. Domain identifies and develops allosteric modulators and biased ligands through its innovative approach and its distinctive technologies. The company’s business model is to g enerate revenues through drug discovery partnerships while developing its own pipeline of drug candidates for central nervous system disorders and cancer. View Source