"If PYC can secure the Omomyc IP to develop the fusion, or partner with [Soucek] directly, then that would be a nice announcement...".
I think we could agree that partnering with the inventor of Omomyc would be a good idea but why would Soucek be interested in a collaboration?
Leaving aside the current collaboration with Genentech and managements claim to be at the forefront of intracellular drug delivery, one good reason would be the partnership with the University of Queensland's IMB. Phylogica and IMB have been awarded a $0.5m grant for screening the phylomer library against Sox18 which is involved in the spread of cancer. Sox 18 is a transcription factor: Omomyc is also a transcription factor. It could well be argued that Phylogica has developed an expertise in the before-off-limits transcription factors.
There is one important distinction. In the case of IMB, the phylomer libraries are being screened to identify a suitable CPP. In the case of Omomyc, a CPP-Omomyc fusion protein has already been identified which has produced 'striking results' in an in vivo pilot trial.
Perhaps Soucek, is chasing an alternative method for engineering a drug to take forward to clinical trials? Yes and no. According to an Abstract for a presentation delivered to the American Association for Cancer Research, Soucek and the project team have two leads which they are following. One lead is based upon the direct use of Omomyc as a peptide due to the discovery that it 'natively possesses cell-penetrating activity'.
It would seem that the CPP-Omomyc fusion protein developed by Phylogica is exactly what the doctor has ordered.
PYC Price at posting:
3.6¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
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