Date: 2016-02-16
Type of information: R&D agreement
Compound: Accurins® incorporating uroguanylin analogs
Company: Bind Therapeutics (USA - MA) Synergy Pharmaceuticals (USA - NY)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: R&D
Action mechanism: Accurins™ are polymeric nanoparticles that incorporate a therapeutic payload and are designed to have prolonged circulation within the bloodstream, enable targeting of the diseased tissue or cells, and provide for the controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload. Tissue targeting is achieved by engineering the physical and chemical properties—size, shape and surface properties—of the Accurin to allow it to escape through gaps in the blood vessels surrounding tumors and other disease sites. Cellular targeting is achieved using proprietary targeting ligands on the surface of the Accurin that binds to specific cell surfaces or tissue markers. Accurins are designed with specific polymers that provide for the controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload. Upon administration, the therapeutic payload begins to diffuse through the polymeric matrix. Subsequently, the polymer breaks down to lactic acid, a compound naturally found in the body. If the therapeutic payload releases before the Accurins accumulate at the disease site, the Accurins will be unable to effectively increase drug concentration in the diseased tissue and the anticipated therapeutic impact will be minimized or lost. Similarly, if the therapeutic payload is not released, or releases too slowly, the anticipated therapeutic impact will be lost or minimized and new toxicities may be created. By combining prolonged circulation, triple targeting and controlled and timely release of the therapeutic payload, Accurins have the potential to significantly increase the net clinical benefit associated with the therapeutic payload and result in efficacy and safety currently not achievable through other therapeutic modalities.
Disease: gastrointestinal cancers
Details: * On February 16, 2016, Bind Therapeutics and Synergy Pharmaceuticals announced they have entered into a research collaboration to engineer Accurins® incorporating Synergy's proprietary uroguanylin analogs to explore the potential targeting of guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptors expressed on tumors, specifically gastrointestinal malignancies. Upon achievement of proof-of-concept, the companies anticipate expanding the collaboration to enhance the potential effect of uroguanylin-based Accurins® by incorporating therapeutic payloads. Uroguanylin is a naturally occurring gastrointestinal peptide and activator of the intestinal GC-C receptor, which is a known target for stimulating a variety of physiological responses. Plecanatide, Synergy's lead uroguanylin analog for functional gastrointestinal disorders, successfully completed phase 3 clinical trials for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in 2015, and the Company recently filed a new drug application (NDA) for plecanatide to treat CIC. Synergy also recently announced positive data on its second uroguanylin analog, dolcanatide, in a phase 1b proof-of-concept study in ulcerative colitis patients.
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