Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 26, 2000
Melbourne pharmaceutical company IDT Australia Ltd will manufacture the drug and work to capture the commercial benefit for Australia. IDT will benefit by an agreed royalty from future commercialisation.
"It's a very exciting drug. We hope to be able to take it from the bench to the bedside within the next 12 months, on a trial basis, here and overseas," said Ms. Gillian Turner, Managing Director of Unisearch Limited.
Unisearch, the commercialisation arm of the University of New South Wales, is developing GSAO, short for glutathionarsenoxide, in partnership with IDT. UNSW Faculty of Medicine biochemist, Professor Philip Hogg, and chemist Dr. Neil Donoghue invented GSAO.
It works to "starve" solid tumours like breast, colon and lung cancers.
This contrasts with conventional "cytotoxic" drugs, which poison cancer cells and can cause unpleasant side effects.
Since GSAO is not a cell-killing chemical, it is likely to be safer and more easily tolerated by patients, predicts oncologist Dr. Michael Millward, head of Clinical Research at the Sydney Cancer Centre.
"It is one of the most promising new anti-cancer agents from Australia that I've seen," said Dr. Millward, who is not involved in the development of the drug.
GSAO also has potential as an HIV drug. The molecule works to prevent the virus from entering cells in the first place.
First GSAO must prove its effectiveness with people. Unisearch hopes to start clinical trials with 20 to 30 volunteer cancer patients in 2001.
Further trials with cancer and HIV patients will follow, depending on results.
In the meantime, worldwide patents are pending, and IDT is gearing up production.
Dr. Graeme Blackman, Chairman of IDT says, "Only a few grams of GSAO exist today, so our first task is to make kilogram quantities."
Dr. Blackman is also excited about the "model of partnership" struck up by Unisearch and IDT. Instead of bringing in a large overseas pharmaceutical company, all the early development and production of GSAO is being conducted locally by UNSW, Unisearch and IDT.
For background, photos, etc. visit http://www.byc.com.au/idt .
SOURCE University of New South Wales
001026
PR001042
Copyright © 2000 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .