Epigenetic Glioblastoma Therapeutics

Project Information

EpiGlioT

Grant agreement ID: 816185

DOI

10.3030/816185

Project closed

EC signature date 1 June 2018

Start date 1 April 2018

End date 30 September 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

BEACTICA THERAPEUTICS AB
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EpiGlioT (Epigenetic Glioblastoma Therapeutics)

Reporting period: 2018-04-01 to 2018-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Despite advances in cancer therapy, treatment of the aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma (GBM) has not seen substantial advancement since the 1970s. The standard care for patients after surgical removal of the tumour is ineffective in clearing the remaining cancer cells and allows for relapses. Current treatment is highly unsatisfactory, it results in high morbidity and mortality with only 15 months average survival and 3% five year survival. It is imperative for the society to address this largely unmet medical need of glioblastoma patients.
The overall objectives of this project were to develop and optimise business plan that will guide exploitation and commercialisation of Beactica’s lead compound that proved effective in targeting resistant glioblastoma cases and has enormous potential to eliminate cancerous cells in the brain that cannot be targeted by current drugs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Beactica used Strategic Business Planning Methodology to perform the feasibility study, which then guided the overall company business development strategy. It provided a valuable understanding of the current trends and opportunities on the glioblastoma therapeutics market, targeted users, competitors and potential partnerships. A work plan for carrying out validation studies that will evaluate the benefit of our product in glioblastoma patients was also developed as part of the project.
The feasibility study has confirmed that there is a clear business opportunity to exploit the global glioblastoma therapeutic market and to deliver first-in-class candidate drug for the effective treatment of this aggressive brain tumour.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This feasibility study has further confirmed the innovative character of Beactica’s approach. The efficacy of our novel compound goes beyond the limitations of the pipeline catalytic LSD1 inhibitors. The LSD1 protein is overexpressed in several cancer types and linked to poor patient outcomes. Our modulators show high affinity and specific binding to LSD1 and demonstrated efficacy in resistant glioblastoma clones, in which other LSD1 inhibitors proved ineffective. We thrive to validate our promising results further and the potential for novel GBM therapeutic that will halt the progress of this disease, decrease healthcare costs and ease financial burden posed on healthcare budgets. The problem of cancer is growing dramatically and Beactica is assured of the significant impact its innovative approach will have on the GBM burden in Europe and worldwide.

Co-crystal structure of the Beactica's ligand with LSD1 protein in high resolution