Novogen and Genea Biocells Partner To Develop Super-Benzopyran (SBP) Drugs
By Cyndi Root
Novogen Limited announced in a press release that it has partnered with Genea Biocells to develop super-benzopyran (SBP) drugs. Both companies have conducted preliminary research that shows SBPs are effective in treating degenerative diseases of the nervous system and muscles. Graham Kelly, CEO of Novogen, said that SBPs can kill cancer stem cells or normalize their appearance and behavior. These qualities convinced the company to investigate the drug’s abilities with stem cells that carry genetic disorders. Dr. Uli Schmidt, General Manager of Genea Biocells, said, “Super-benzopyrans are the first drug class we have seen with the ability to selectively modulate misbehaving stem cells.”
Novogen and Genea Biocells Partnership
Novogen and Genea have agreed to pool their resources. Each will retain their respective intellectual property rights and marketing rights. The focus of the partnership is on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, infantile neuraxonal dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.
Novogen’s SBP Drugs
Super-benzopyrans (SBPs) are small molecule drugs that target abnormal hydrogen ion (proton) movement across intra-cellular membranes. SBPs show promise in a wide range of degenerative diseases and in cancer. Novogen began work with SBPs in 1996 when it identified the molecular structure of the benzopyran ring called the pharmacophore. This structure is found in plants and animal cells, and it regulates metabolic functions. Novogen applied the structure to pharmaceuticals, designing compounds to mimic the pharmacore’s regulating ability.
Phenoxodiol was one of the first generation drugs created to target an oncogene in tumor cells. The oncogene regulated the tumor-associated NADH oxidase. Phenoxodial disrupted this proton pump and the sphingomyelin pathway, resulting in tumor cell death. Second generation drugs NV-128 and NV-344 had a more complex structure,were more potent, and were more effective against cancer stem cells. Novogen created the third generation of SBPs that were 20-50 times more potent than the second generation drugs.
Genea Biocells
Genea Biocells specializes in embryonic stem cells sourced from embryos donated by couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Genea uses the stem cells to test pharmaceutical compounds.
Genea’s Dr. Schmidt says that the collaboration with Novogen will allow the two companies to use their respective assets to develop new therapies.