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The provision of effective and sustainable healthcare is a major challenge for society. In the developed world escalating costs are placing a huge burden on finite resources; in the developing world, where financial resources are often extremely limited, providing affordable healthcare is an even greater problem. One innovative route to help alleviate these problems is through drug redeployment, whereby existing drugs are employed in new ways to tackle serious diseases. Combining their knowledge of haematological disease gained from their research over the past 20 years together with a drug redeployment strategy, researchers in the School of Biosciences have developed and trialled new interventions for two blood cell cancers, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL), based on the administration of a combination of the lipid lowering drug Bezalip (Bez) and the female contraceptive Provera (MPA). As a result:
Our research has underpinned the work of Celldex Therapeutics and other US based companies, in developing a vaccine directed against hCGβ for the adjuvant treatment of epithelial cancer. A number of Phase I trials indicated an improvement in survival of vaccinated patients and Phase II trials began for bladder cancer where early data showed promise by improving the survival time. This has had a significant impact on these patients, and has the potential to extend the life of many millions of cancer sufferers (around 32% frequency of hCGβ secretion by carcinomas). Our research input has helped prove the technology and further trials are awaiting finance.
Southampton research underpins the clinical development of a new class of anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies (mAb), such as anti-CD40, anti-CD27 and anti-CD20. The most advanced is a next generation, fully human drug, ofatumumab (commercialised by GlaxoSmithKline/Genmab; trade-name Arzerra) approved in Oct 2009 to treat advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Its approval was based on a 42% response rate in patients who had failed current `best in class' treatment. Arzerra is now a multi-million dollar drug, launched in 26 countries (and growing) and is being used in 19 on-going clinical trials worldwide for diseases ranging from lymphoma to rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Southampton's work has inspired follow-on funding from government and industry in excess of £12m.
An antibody screening test for early detection of cancer was developed in the laboratories of Prof Ron Laskey (Zoology) and Prof Nick Coleman (Pathology). Patent applications arising from their research were filed by Cancer Research Technology (CRT) and licensed to multiple diagnostic companies, including Becton Dickinson (BD). The BD ProExTM C reagent is in use internationally, including for the triage of cervical smears and biopsies showing `borderline' abnormalities (~2-6% of cervical smears in developed countries). Additional licensing deals have been negotiated for screening in a range of other cancers, including bladder, pancreas and prostate. The licences have generated in excess of £800K for CRT and the University to date.
An antibody screening test for early detection of cancer was developed in the laboratories of Prof Nick Coleman (Pathology) and Prof Ron Laskey (Zoology; UoA5) and Patent applications arising from their research were filed by Cancer Research Technology (CRT) and licensed to multiple diagnostic companies, including Becton Dickinson (BD). The BD ProExTM C reagent is in use internationally, including for the triage of cervical smears and biopsies showing `borderline' abnormalities (~5-7% of cervical smears in developed countries). Additional licensing deals have been negotiated for screening in a range of other cancers, including bladder, pancreas and prostate. The licences have generated in excess of £800K for CRT and the University to date.
Research by Professor Parmjit Jat (first at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, then part of UCL; later at the UCL Institute of Neurology) established and applied the critically important scientific concept of conditional immortalisation to a wide variety of cell lines, enabling cells to be grown indefinitely in vitro but differentiate upon altering the growth conditions. Two companies were established in partnership with Jat to exploit this research, ReNeuron (now worth £63.5m and publicly traded on the London AIM market) and XCellSyz (now part of Lonza AG). More than 20 patents based on Professor Jat's work have been issued. Reagents based on his research have been evaluated, licensed and used by 17 companies worldwide: Amgen, Amylin, Boehringer Mannheim, Cell Genesys, Chiron, Eli Lilly, Genentech Inc., Genetics Institute, Immunex, Johnson & Johnson, Medarex, Novartis, Ortho Pharm., Pfizer Inc., Regeneron, ReNeuron, Takeda, EMD Serono, and XCellSyZ/Cambrex Bioscience/Lonza.
Bladder cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer, with over 70% of cases presenting as non-muscle invasive bladder carcinomas (NMIBC). Research in the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford led to the evaluation of Apaziquone (EO9) in phase II clinical trials against high risk NMIBC in The Netherlands, and two multi-centre phase III clinical trials involving 106 centres across the USA, Canada and Europe. A total of 1,746 patients with low or high risk NMIBC received EO9 and significant reductions in the rates of recurrence at two years have been reported. Our research has impacted upon the health and welfare of patients with NMIBC.
Fundamental to effective treatment of diabetes is the understanding of complex mechanisms regulating the function and demise of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells. Inherent limitations relating to pancreatic beta-cell supply coupled with short functional life in culture prompted the challenge to establish model clonal human beta-cells. Ulster exploited an innovative approach to first establish clonal rodent beta-cells. Further development of our novel technology resulted in the generation, patent protection, and commercialisation of world-first electrofusion-derived functional human beta-cells. Our unique and valuable beta-cell lines have been licensed to multi-national pharmaceutical companies for diabetes drug development and further commercialised by sales through ECACC (now Public Health England) to directly impact on both bio-industry and the international research community by providing a limitless supply of high quality model beta-cells for translational research and diabetes drug development.
The University of Nottingham spin out company Scancell Holdings plc is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. By licensing products (£6million) and listing and raising money (£4million) on the stock exchange, it has provided an excellent return for investors. In 2012, in response to good clinical trial results, Scancell's shares showed the greatest percentage increase (10fold) on London's AIM stock exchange, reaching a market capitalisation of £98million. This has encouraged further investment (£6.5million) which is in line with the Government's plan to promote the Biotechnology Industry. As the products progress to market it will save further lives and continue to increase in value providing further profit for investors.
Neural stem cells offer enormous therapeutic potential for stroke but they require regulatory approval. Researchers at King's College London (KCL) devised a technology to immortalise stem cells, generated clinical-grade neural stem cell lines and demonstrated efficacy in an animal model of stroke. KCL research underpins the first approvals in the UK for a therapeutic stem cell product. This led to an industry-sponsored clinical trial of a stem cell therapeutic that has demonstrated vital improvement in all the first five stroke patients treated. KCL research has made a significant impact by considerably reducing the timetable for delivering potential therapies which will affect the life sciences industry and the process now in place acts as a model for other technology developments in this area.