Previously, I referred to a report titled Cell Engineering Strategy to Enhance the Safety of Stem Cell Therapies. Its time to pay it more attention because the report highlights the potential for targeting Myc and underscores the breakthrough potential for a Myc inhibitor. The report, by researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, was published in September 2014 and features research into an 'inducible dominant negative Myc allele' called Omomyc.
But firstly, a word from BioExec;
"Now [Phylogica] chose Myc, my guess in part, because Omomyc, surprisingly appears to have no effect if it gets into normal cells. If true, and it looks like it is, that would be great, dont have to worry about the side effects from off-target", posted 21/02/16.
Due to the complexity of the science, I will rely upon the summary within the report to simplify matters. The MSK researchers were primarily focused upon stem cell therapies and the use of induced pluripotent stem cells - one application of iPSCs are engineered T cells used in CAR-T therapies. The researchers found that aggressive cancers derived from IPSCs are 'strikingly sensitive' to temporary Myc blockade. The cancer in others words is Myc dependent. Differentiated tissues derived from the iPSCs, however, can 'readily tolerate' turning off Myc.
The assertion by BioExec is mirrored in the research by MSK in relation to cancers derived from iPSCs. Normal differentiated cells don't care if you turn off Myc but cancer cells which are Myc dependent, stop growing and die.
Myc appears to be the Achilles heel for tumors. A Myc inhibitor appears to have the potential to be a safe therapy to temporarily turn off Myc.
Another word from BioExec;
"There are no other alternatives to Omomyc, and PYC is not going to develop a Myc inhibitor on their own. That is just the reality of it, whether anyone on this blog believes it or not," posted 30/03/15.
It looks like BioExec could be wrong on the former assertion but right on the latter - PYC were not going to develop a Myc inhibitor on its own. I suspect that the Board recognised this in early 2016 when they saw the potential for the iMYC program. Are we witnessing the beginning of an international collaboration to bring a breakthrough Myc inhibitor into the clinic? The secrets in the world of Myc are about to be revealed.
PYC Price at posting:
4.7¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
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