�The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Seed-One Ventures announce the formation of Heat Biologics Inc. to develop two related platform technologies which introduce a novel lung cancer vaccine and asthma therapy, with potential drop applications in the treatment of a number of other incitive diseases. The two treatments were developed by Eckhard Podack, M.D., Ph.D., Sylvester Distinguished Professor of Medicine and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Seed-One Ventures forms new companies based on cutting-edge technologies and discovery medical therapies.
This collaboration is the work of UM Innovation, the University of Miami's home of technology progress which develops university-generated treatments or devices, and whole kit and caboodle with businesses to take that engineering into the marketplace. Under the umbrella of UM Innovation, the Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research produced the lung cancer vaccine, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, and afterward matched both groundbreaking treatments with Seed-One Ventures.
"Seed-One Ventures evaluates hundreds of technologies every year, and the treatments developed by Dr. Podack are among the best we've seen," said Jeffrey Wolf, managing partner, Seed-One Ventures. "His approach represents a prototype shift, a non-traditional sentiment of certain prevailing ideas about immunology. The conclusion to contour Heat Biologics around Dr. Podack's breakthrough work was an easy one."
Bart Chernow, MD, vice provost for technology advancement at the Miller School, indicated how proud of he was that Mr. Wolf and his colleagues at Heat Biologics would be helping in the research and development of this significant therapeutic attack. "The formation of this spin cancelled company will hopefully enable Dr. Podack's discovery to reach its full potency, and if it is found to be safe and efficacious, it volition help many people suffering from lung cancer."
Dr. Podack's novel lung cancer vaccine, gp-96, was highly-developed to treat non-small cell lung malignant neoplastic disease (NSCLC), which accounts for 85 percentage of all lung cancers. For NSCLC patients, surgery and chemotherapy are often the only options, so this treatment will replete a significant need.
While conventional vaccines are secondhand to forestall infectious diseases, Dr. Podack's treatment is meant to stimulate the immune system to fight the disease once it is diagnosed. The body's immune organisation does not recognize NSCLC as unsafe, so it does non attack those cells. To trigger the immune system, Dr. Podack began working with gp-96, a heat energy shock protein. Normally, this heat shock protein cadaver in the cell and is protected from the immune system. Dr. Podack genetically engineered a NSCLC cell to secrete this protein, which "induces tumor-antigen specific cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells," he explains.
This is where the second of the deuce complementary technologies comes into play. Vaccines against cancer have been limited in effectiveness by regulatory T cells, which block the immune response system. Dr. Podack has developed tumor necrosis gene receptor (TNFR) 25 agonists and antagonists, which tooshie be used to benefit patients in two ways. TNFR25 agonists have the ability to block the production of regulatory T cells, allowing the immune system to work uninhibited. By applying this therapy in conjunction with the gp-96 vaccine, the antineoplastic treatment tooshie be much more effective. Dr. Podack notes that it is five to ten times more in force in mice. He sees a lot of hope with this new therapy. "The gp96-vaccine in combination with TNFR25 agonists offers the best hope to conquer crab and other intractable diseases."
TNFR25 antagonists offer hope to those with bronchial asthma and other inflammatory diseases. As the opposite of TNFR25 agonists, this antibody works as an anti-inflammatory drug agent, easement the symptoms of asthma attack and several other autoimmune diseases.
Heat Biologics and the University of Miami are presently enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical trial of gp-96, under the direction of Luis E. Raez, M.D., associate professor of music and co-leader of the Lung Cancer Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. A Phase I trial is meant to determine the safety of a treatment. Dr. Podack believes this vaccinum could get a fast track for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because there are so few effective treatments for NSCLC. A fast-track appellative would base a six-month review following a Phase III tribulation involving hundreds of patients.
Heat Biologics is i of respective cutting-edge health care technology and biotechnology companies founded in Florida by Seed-One in recent age, making it one of the region's more active seed-stage venture firms. Seed-One builds its portfolio companies from the ground up and actively manages each. Mr. Wolf will service as CEO of Heat Biologics and oversee the development and commercialization of the company's platform technologies.
About UM InnovationUM Innovation is the home of technology progress at the University of Miami and serves to nurture and integrate UM's vibrant and comprehensive research initiatives. UM Innovation incorporates the Office of Technology Transfer, the Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research and the young Life Science Park and serves as a bridge between staff scientists seeking to commercially transfer their research efforts and incorporated entities concerned in accessing and forward innovative technologies.
About Seed-One VenturesSeed-One Ventures, LLC, is focused on forming new companies from the ground up based upon find technologies with significant commercial applications. Seed-One actively manages each new venture it creates. Seed-One's target areas for young venture creation include bioengineering, pharmaceuticals, information systems, and hardware and software technologies.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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