Cancer is now the number one killer of Australians and there is an unmet medical need to develop new therapies that are safe and maximize anti-cancer efficacy. Cancer immunotherapy now represents a new fourth pillar in cancer treatment to complement surgery, radiotherapy and chemo-/targeted therapies. This application aims to develop new therapeutic approaches to broaden the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and potentially allow the treatment of a broader range of cancers and patients.
Abnormal growth of blood vessels is a central feature of number of blinding conditions of the eye. Although there are treatments available that reduce the sudden loos of vision in a majority of people with advanced age related macular degeneration, about 20% fail to respond and half gradually loose vision. This project will determine the effectiveness of treating vascular diseases of the retina with a novel therapy that is quite different to that currently available.
Preclinical Development Of A Therapeutic Anticancer Antibody To C-Met
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,530.00
Summary
Many common cancers cannot be effectively treated. A range of these cancers (e.g. gastric and lung cancer) display the molecule c-Met on their cell surface. c-Met promotes tumour growth; therefore, blocking c-Met is a promising strategy for treating these cancers. However, no antibodies or drugs that target c-Met have been licensed. The therapeutics that are being developed to target c-Met all have considerable limitations. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop a 'best-in-class' therapeutic.
Even in well-resourced countries, the ability to continue treating HIV patients for their lifetime may become unaffordable, which has focused attention on developing a cure for HIV. We have exploited unique insights into a pathway for Tat expression from latent HIV to identify novel compounds that target HIV latency. This project assembles a multidisciplinary team to optimize the lead compounds, and develop novel drug regimens to fast-track into clinical development as a HIV-curative therapy.
Stability Engineering Of Human Antibody Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,104.00
Summary
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are among the fastest growing class of drugs with more than $30 billion sales in 2011. Unfortunately, antibodies often display limited stability and a tendency to aggregate. This greatly hinders their development and results in high failure rates of otherwise promising candidates. We have recently identified mutations that render human antibodies resistant to aggregation. Here we apply this technology to a monoclonal antibody candidate developed by a leading pha ....Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are among the fastest growing class of drugs with more than $30 billion sales in 2011. Unfortunately, antibodies often display limited stability and a tendency to aggregate. This greatly hinders their development and results in high failure rates of otherwise promising candidates. We have recently identified mutations that render human antibodies resistant to aggregation. Here we apply this technology to a monoclonal antibody candidate developed by a leading pharmaceutical company.Read moreRead less
This project aims to develop a treatment for hearing loss (none exist) that can be progressed to a clinical trial for patients with significant hearing impairment. The treatment involves the use of drug delivery particles that we have shown to be effective in preventing the loss of sensory auditory cells in deafness. The project will further develop and validate this technology in deafness models so that it can be applied to human patients in a first in human trial.
Anticalins: Inhalable Biologicals For Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,933.00
Summary
This grant aims to develop a new class of medicines called 'anticalins'. Anticalins behave like a successful class of medicines called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). MAbs are too fragile and large to be inhaled to treat lung disease but anticalins are small and robust. We will be developing an anticalin (PRS-060) which blocks damaging immune reactions in severe asthma. By inhaling PRS-060 we hope to make a new and clinically useful medicine for a common form of poorly-controlled severe asthma.
Sortase Peptide Technology: Enzymatic Site-specific Bioconjugation To Improve Antibody Drug Conjugate Production And Performance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,046.00
Summary
Cancer is characterised by uncontrolled cell growth, leading to invasion and destruction of adjacent tissues. It is a major cause of death in Australia. Targeted drug delivery is an attractive therapeutic strategy that has the potential to lower systemic drug concentrations and reduce side effects. We are developing more efficient cancer drugs.
CSI-Sydney: New Technologies To Treat Chronic Sinus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,213.00
Summary
Chronic sinus infection (CSI) is prevalent and results in severe discomfort and pain for many Australians; yet amazingly, has no specific cure or effective treatment. Our multi-disciplinary research team and an Australian health and medical research company, (AFT Pharmaceuticals) have partnered to develop a novel device that specifically targets the sinuses and a formulation capable for simultaneously removing mucus, dispersing biofilms and killing bacteria in the nasal cavities.
Innovative Antimicrobial Treatments For Successful Bone Allografts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,706.00
Summary
Bone healing sites are commonly infected, and this is associated with adverse clinical and significant socioeconomic outcomes. These studies will determine whether our novel antimicrobials can be used to reduce bone infections by studying the combination of antimicrobials and bone in laboratory and bone fracture studies whilst minimising the potential of developing antibiotic resistance.