Its a small world, page-4

Lets look at commercialising drugs from the viewpoint of an academic institution. The global deal between University of WA and Sarepta which was signed in April 2013 raised $7.1m in upfront and development milestone payments plus 'low single-digit' royalties on net sales of all approved medicines. Modest upfront but a perpetual flowing river of cash.

That's great news for UWA but how about Murdoch? Undoubtedly, Murdoch would like their own river of cash not to mention the flow on that a global deal would bring to the international research standing of the university.

The Centre for Comparative Genomics is highly energised to bring forward new drug candidates. Its good to remind ourselves that in February 2016, Sue Fletcher commented in relation to the collaboration with Phylogica that "we're really encouraged by these pilot studies...". Fast forward to November 2018 and Session 6 at FNA Perth. Rohan Hockings address was sandwiched between keynote lectures by Professor Hirao from A-Star and Professor Sue Fletcher and Dr Flynn from Murdoch. Hockings must have felt a sense of being in good company.

There is also a sense that the pilot studies of 2016 have been on track for development. Will the next generation of PPMOs have a Sarepta imprint or a Phylogica imprint or a combination of the two? The team at the Centre for Comparative Genomics would presumably adopt an agnostic approach - what is the best delivery vehicle particularly in rare diseases where intracellular efficiency and specificity is a key determinant for a successful therapy!

It could be in spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis or another of the 6000 known rare diseases. The therapeutic in vivo read outs in 2019 will tell all.