The US-based Smart Biosciences, which is engaged in the discovery and development of novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat major age-related illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease and various forms of cancer, is looking for ties with companies in India, Singapore and Korea.
Dr James E Foley, president and chief executive officer, SMART Biosciences, told Pharmabiz, the company is planning to enter into collaborations with Indian biopharmaceutical companies for chemistry and discovery support and agreements are likely to be signed by the second quarter of 2007. It has so far found the capabilities of Biocon and Nicholas Piramal suitable for co-development of therapeutics.
Since its beginning in 2005, as a spin-off of Columbia University, the company has been working to address significant unmet therapeutic needs. Through its affiliation with Columbia University, SMART holds exclusive worldwide licenses to intellectual property.
The company's scientists have identified several novel targets in two therapeutic areas that have the potential for new treatments. For Alzheimer's disease, a novel lipid target that modulates levels of neurotoxic beta-amyloid in the brain is being worked, and for Cancer, two novel targets that modulate p53 stability, increasing tumour-cell sensitivity to cytotoxic and radiation therapies are being developed, he informed.
The company has demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) modulates the levels of the 42-residue amyloid a-peptide (Aâ42), which is implicated in AD pathogenesis. Proof-of-concept has been demonstrated using SMT-3, a small molecule phosphoinositide (PI) synthesis modulator, which not only selectively lowers Aâ42 [ã-secretase modulating (GSM) activity], but also inhibits the synaptic dysfunction induced by toxic oligomeric forms of Aâ42. SMT-3 has been shown to improve behaviour and memory when evaluated in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
Current R&D activities are focused on using SMT-3 as a structural lead to identify improved molecules with clear worldwide patent exclusivity and developing novel clauses of small-molecule modulators of PI-specific lipid kinases and phosphates, that mimic both GSM activity and inhibition of the synaptic dysfunction caused by oligomeric forms of Aâ42.
It's oncology discovery and development program is focused on selective inhibitors of HAUSP (Herpes-associated ubiquitin-specific protease, USP7), a novel p53-interacting protein, as well as inhibitors of ARF-BP1, a novel-binding molecule of the ARF tumour suppressor.
Recent data from the laboratory of Dr Wei Gu at Columbia, demonstrated that ARF-BP1 promotes tumour formation via both p53-dependent and independent mechanisms. Thus, an inhibitor of ARF-BP1 should be useful as a next-generation agent for treating a variety of tumour types, including those not responsive to currently available anti-tumour agents and treatment regimens, he added.