Platform Technologies – Always Forward-Looking
Todays biologic medicines, like antibodies and recombinant proteins, are all derived from genetic materials. The DNA (gene) known to produce a therapeutic protein is inserted into a host cell, such as a bacteria called E. coli or mammalian cells called “CHO”. The host cells then replicate and make the therapeutic protein. This is achieved using recombinant DNA technology developed in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Biologic therapeutics are still made using this core technology.
A new era has arrived, whereby ANEW MEDICAL INC’s platform technology can introduce the genetic material directly into human cells in the body, and the patient then becomes the “factory” for protein production inside their body. This approach is called gene therapy.
ANEW MEDICAL, INC. licensed exclusive rights to develop and commercialize two key product platform technologies – biosimilar biologics (antibodies made in host cells) against cancer, and human gene and protein therapy utilizing an important gene referred to as α-Klotho.
α-Klotho was named after the Greek goddess Klotho (or Clotho), the regulator of life and aging. Thus, α-Klotho is referred to as the “anti-aging” gene and protein because there is striking evidence of α-Klotho inhibiting or reversing age-related pathologies. This includes inhibiting or stopping memory loss, cognition, and other manifestations of dementia, as well as affecting neuromuscular diseases, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, dermal (skin) aging, sarcopenia (muscle wasting), kidney function, and cancer.
Our licensed novel gene therapy construct expresses a novel truncated protein (s+KL) with all of the activities associated with the full-length, 70 kD soluble α-Klotho protein (s-KL) and many of the properties of 130 kD transmembrane-bound α-Klotho (m-KL). It can be used as a viral-vectored product, as a lipid-complexed DNA construct, or as a recombinant protein therapeutic. Additionally, the novel gene construct can be inserted into cells from a patient, and the patient’s cells (autologous cells) can be infused back into the same patient as a cell therapy.
As serial entrepreneurs, Dr. Joseph Sinkule and Dr. Shalom Hirschman have encountered and worked with many drug development programs during their careers. The current two programs are the foundation technologies for growth of the Company. New products and new platform technologies may be added over time.
