Ann: Nature Paper MK in Melanoma, page-49

The SMH news article quoted is intended for a very general readership with virtually no detail given of any scientific background. There is no indication of what the molecular target of the drug combination mentioned might be other than an intention to “block the action of a particular gene”, and therefore the target is not a protein. It is unlikely that the target is the MK-gene that expresses midkine since there would be numerous other possible gene targets.

Cellmid’s dominant IP relates to the use of MK-antibodies to target the midkine protein once expressed, although it does have some patent coverage over MK-specific DNA or RNA antisense agents that are able to disrupt MK expression. The drugs mentioned in the SMH article may be designed to act in a similar fashion.