June 10, 2010
Contact:
Jeremy Craig, 404-413-1357
University Relations
ATLANTA - Researchers at Georgia State University, in partnership with the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology in Beijing, China, have commercialized a Chinese patent for a new preclinical molecule that could potentially be developed into an anti-cancer treatment by targeting a type of protein in cancer cells.
The two institutions have transferred the Chinese patent for the compound to Shanxi Powerdone Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., which will further develop this class of compounds.
"Part of the responsibilities of research universities like Georgia State University is to transfer its faculty's discoveries into the commercial marketplace," said Robin Morris, vice president for research. "The funding from this transfer allows us to continue to build our capacity to ensure that future transfers of our discoveries into the marketplace occur, and that we can expand our economic development activities."
The work stems from an ongoing collaboration between David Boykin, Regents' Professor emeritus of chemistry and research scientist Liaixing Hu at Georgia State University and Jian-Dong Jiang, director of the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology.
Researchers have evidence that the compound, N-(2,6-dimethoxypridine-3-yl)-9-methylcarbazole-3-sulfonamide, binds to tubulin, a structural protein that plays a role in cellular organization and cell division. The protein can act as a target in solid tumor cancer cells, such as those in breast, liver, prostate, lung, skin, colon and pancreatic cancer, according to Boykin.
In studies, the compound has shown potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in mice. The compound is in an early stage of discovery and has not yet been entered into clinical trials.
The collaboration between Georgia State University and the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology was started during the early 2000s and has resulted in the exchange of scientists between the two institutions.