ID: 2017-027 A simplified synthetic compound based on a novel organic compound called (-)-englerin A that could potentially treat renal cancer.
Principal Investigator: Merritt Andrus
Despite the latest improvements in cancer treatment, renal cancer remains a problematic disease with high mortality rates. New available treatments have improved the condition reducing tumor size and metastases, but they have not demonstrated improved patient survival. Studies have shown (-)-englerin A, a molecule isolated from an African plant, to be a potent inhibitor of renal cancer cells. However, total syntheses that have been reported by other researchers (18 to 25 step range) are impractical for large-scale production.
This invention embodies a strategic modification that has simplified the structure of (-)-englerin A, from 33 steps to 9 steps, allowing for more efficient mass production of the compound while maintaining its potent anti-cancer activity. With further development, this invention could potentially address the mortality issue in renal cancer in a very accessible way.
Advantages of the technology include:
1. Easier production
2. Non-toxic to normal cells
3. Unique activity as a new mechanism for killing cancer cells
As an oral or intravenous treatment, a drug using this technology could provide patients suffering from renal cancer with an effective and accessible treatment alternative to chemo therapy.
About the Market:
The renal cancer drugs market is projected to reach $5.6 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 17%. This market is primarily driven by the changing lifestyles of people, including excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and rising rates of obesity. Furthermore, the occurrence of new cases of kidney cancer is expected to grow more rapidly in developed countries such as the U.S. than in developing countries due to the lifestyle differences and rising elderly populations of developed countries. In the United States alone, over 52,000 new cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year and treatment usually involves radical or partial removal of diseased tissue. When confined to the kidney, 60 to 70% of patients survive five years, as long as the tumor has not spread.
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