Procyon BioPharma Inc.
Procyon Biopharma is a publicly-traded Canadian biotechnology
company actively engaged in the discovery and development of
innovative therapeutics and diagnostics in the fields of
oncology and infectious diseases. The mission of the Company
is to identify leading-edge technologies, bring them quickly to
advanced human clinical trials and license them to
pharmaceutical companies for further development and
commercialization. Procyon receives from licensee partners
upfront and milestone payments, as well as royalty revenues
upon commercialization.
Company Details
Year Established:
1989
Number of Employees:
37
Company Information
Hans Mder
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Chandra Panchal, Ph.D.
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Research/Development/Engineering
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
James Sutton, Md, Ph.D.
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Research/Development/Engineering
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5139
Email:
Click Here
Daniel Bock, Ph.D.
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Brian Davies, Ca
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Christian Marcoux, M.Sc.
Title:
Director
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
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Julie Thibodeau
Title:
Chef, Relations publiques/investisseurs
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Monique Ltourneau, Cfa
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Richard La Rue, Llb
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(514) 685-2000
Fax:
(514) 685-5138
Email:
Click Here
Products
Colopath
Fibrostat
Fibrostat
Fibrostat is the only topical therapeutic cream that reduces
excessive scarring following surgery and burns.
This late stage product in development at Procyon is indicated
for the management and prevention of excessive scar formation
(hypertrophic scarring) following dermal insult (surgery,
grafting, trauma, burns, etc.)
Hypertrophic scars are characterized by being thick and ropey;
red, firm and elevated, painful and itchy and can cause
functional deficits when they occur across a joint.
In the wound healing process, the enzyme tissue
transglutaminase (tTGase) plays a role in the production of ε-
(γ-glutamyl) lysine cross-links to form insoluble collagen
matrices. In hypertrophic scarring this enzyme is found to be
over-expressed resulting in an over-healing process and an
excess deposition of collagen.
Pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggests that 1,4
diaminobutane dihydrochloride (1,4 DAB 2HCl), the active
pharmaceutical ingredient of Fibrostat, inhibits tTGase
activity.
The incidence of hypertrophic scarring following surgery is
high: 39% in Caucasians and 68% in Orientals, and 33% and 91%
in Caucasians and Orientals respectively after burns. Up to 15%
of the general population is affected by hypertrophic scarring
following wounding (as high as 90% in darker skinned people).
Currently there are no topical pharmaceutical preparations with
an active pharmaceutical ingredient that prevent and/or treat
hypertrophic scars. The regulation of collagen production by
Fibrostat offers a unique and exciting approach.
Phase IIb clinical trial is underway to further evaluate the
safety and efficacy of 0.8% Fibrostat.
The rights to Fibrostat for North America are licensed to
Biovail Corporation.
Ansa - - Antinucleosome Antibodies
ANTI-NUCLEOSOME ANTIBODIES (ANsA)
While the market for chemotherapy and adjunctive products such
as immunomodulators continues to grow, there is continued
concern with side-effects and toxicity. As a result there has
been a resurgence of interest in immunological therapies,
particularly monoclonal antibody based therapeutics. ANsA-based
therapeutic antibodies specifically target cancer cells by
binding to nucleosomes (DNA combined with histone protein),
which are usually found within the cell nucleus and out of reach
of circulating antibodies. However, during the process of tumor
growth, some cancer cells die due to apoptosis. The dying cells
release nucleosomes that attach to binding sites on the surface
of surviving cancer cells. ANsA antibodies target cancer in
this manner and signal the bodys own immune system to break
down and kill the cancer cells. Therefore, ANsA may have
therapeutics and imagery application.
Psp94 Serum-based Immunoassay
PSP94 Serum based immunoassay
PSP94 Serum based immunoassay is a reliable, quick-and-easy
serum test to detect and monitor prostate cancer.
Research has shown PSP94 to exist in blood in a free and a
bound form and that the ratio of bound versus free PSP94 is
more effective in predicting the disease course. Studies have
also shown that levels of PSP94 are hormone-independent and not
affected by androgen or anti-androgen therapy. PSP94
assessments are therefore, also likely to have utility during
periods of androgen ablation therapy.
Monoclonal antibodies that recognize free PSP94, bound PSP94
and the binding protein were developed at Procyon. An
immunoassay for measurement of PSP94 levels in serum is
currently being refined and validated, which is sufficiently
specific, accurate and sensitive to be used in a clinical
development program. The PSP94 binding protein was recently
purified and identified.
The development of a sensitive laboratory assay for measurement
of levels of this protein in the serum of patients with
prostate cancer is ongoing.
Although the current PSA test is the most widely used test for
screening, detection and monitoring of prostate cancer, this
test is not, however, of much value in the determination of the
stage or the progression of the cancer.
There continues to be a considerable need for additional serum
markers for use in prostate cancer management.
Proof of concept studies in clinical-correlation studies are
being developed.
Pck3145 Therapeutic Petide
PCK3145
PCK3145 is a non-toxic therapeutic for the treatment of
prostate cancer.
PSP94 is a naturally occurring protein synthesized primarily in
the prostate and found in large quantities in the seminal
fluid. Although the complete physiological role of PSP94 is not
completely known, it is believed to be involved as a growth
inhibitor and a promoter of cell death in the natural control
of excessive and/or abnormal proliferation of epithelial cells
both in normal prostate tissue as well as in malignant prostate
tissues.
Studies to date have indicated that PSP94 will induce apoptosis
in prostate cancer cells and the clinical utility of these
observations are currently under investigation.
PCK3145 is a synthetic 15-mer peptide based on the sequence of
the native PSP94.
PCK3145 is Procyons lead candidate under investigation for the
treatment of HRPC.
Currently no effective treatments exist for patients where
hormone treatment has failed. The management of hormone
refractory prostate cancer is solely palliative to date.
Pre-clinical studies showed that both PSP94 and PCK3145 can act
as tumor suppressive agents capable of arresting and inhibiting
growth of HRPC by as much as 50%.
Toxicology and pharmacokinetic study results determined PCK3145
to have no obvious non-specific safety liabilities.
Phase IIa human clinical trial is underway to confirm the
safety and tolerability of PCK3145 in the treatment of patients
with metastatic HRPC. Procyon is optimistic about the outcome
of this trial and expects a potential fast track approach to
commercialization.
Pl-100 Protease Inhibitor
PL-100
PL-100 is a next-generation protease inhibitor for the
treatment of drug-resistant HIV/AIDS.
The protease enzyme is a protein that cuts other proteins at
highly specific locations. The HIV protease enzyme cleaves
polyproteins of the virus into essential functional protein
products during the maturation process of the virion. This
critical process occurs as each new virion buds from the
membrane of an HIV-infected cell and continues after the
immature virus is released from the cell. If the cleavage of
HIV polyproteins is blocked by an inhibitor, the virus fails to
mature and is incapable of infecting a new cell.
Protease inhibitors are extremely powerful antiviral agents and
are a key component of the polytherapy that is commonly used to
treat HIV/AIDS. However, they are associated with complex
dosage schedules, viral resistance, a multitude of potentially
harmful drug interactions and serious side effects such as
abnormal fat deposit, diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Procyon's PL-100 is a second-generation protease inhibitor that
demonstrates a unique resistance profile on drug- and multi-
drug resistant strains of the HIV virus. Procyon's novel
protease inhibitor (PI) technology is based on the use of
simple, original molecular scaffolds on which chemical groups
are attached in a few easy steps to generate powerful protease
inhibitors. Therefore, our competitive advantage is both
medical in targeting the unmet medical need of viral resistance
and economical in terms of cost-of-goods.
75% of HIV patients on drug therapy are experiencing drug or
multi-drug resistance and 10-20% of the newly diagnosed
patients are now presenting resistance. Procyon's PL-100 is a
second-generation protease inhibitor compound that shows a
competitive advantage over the currently available anti-
protease drugs as it is designed to address multi-drug
resistance.
PL-100 pre-clinical studies, including pharmacokinetic,
genotoxicity and other safety studies, are being conducted
during 2003-2004. Chemistry and manufacturing studies are being
conducted in parallel to ensure availability of drug product
for clinical testing. PL-100 has been shown to be orally
bioavailable with an acceptable half-life.
Pl-2500 Integrase Inhibitor
PL-2500
PL-2500 is an integrase inhibitor that addresses a novel
mechanism of action for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The integrase enzyme is a complex protein that inserts HIV
genetic material into the human DNA. It is responsible for
trimming the pro-viral DNA, cutting the host DNA and inserting
the pro-viral DNA into the host genome. This process is
necessary for viral infectivity and replication. If the
insertion of pro-viral DNA into the host genome is prevented by
an integrase inhibitor, then the virus can not replicate.
Procyon's PL-2500 is the lead molecule of a new class of
compounds that addresses a novel target the HIV virus.
Integrase plays a critical role in the replication cycle of HIV
as it is the enzyme activity that is responsible for
integrating HIV DNA into the DNA of a patient; inhibition of
this step is expected to reduce the patient's viral load.
Procyon's novel integrase inhibitor (II) technology is based on
simple, novel small-molecule scaffolds with the concept that
subsequent scale-up manufacturing activities are facilitated.
The integrase enzyme represents a very challenging HIV-native
enzyme encoded in the HIV genome and constitutes a promising
and exciting new therapeutic target.
As more viral strains develop resistance to PIs, NRTIs and
NNRTIs, other therapeutic options become indispensable. To
date, numerous integrase inhibitors have been described but
only a few have shown sufficient antiviral activity to be
pursued further as therapeutic agents. Thus, with its unique
mode of action, a chemical from Procyon's PL-2500 drug class
has the potential to become a major breakthrough in HIV/AIDS
treatment.
Lead compound optimization studies are currently underway.
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