Singapore, May 2, 2008: CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world, has entered into an agreement with Adelaide-based biotech company, Oncaidia, to make the company’s new anti-cancer drug, Apomab, suitable for human trials.

 

Mr Keith Smith, Managing Director, Oncaidia said, “Apomab has the potential to aid in the management of a number of human cancers that are currently difficult to treat – including prostate cancer and lung cancer. In addition, we think Apomab has the potential to change the way cancer patients are managed because doctors may be able to assess whether chemotherapy is working after just the first dose.”

 

Mr Smith says successful human trials of the drug could also have important community implications resulting from more effective use of health care resources.

 

Dr Tim O’Meara, scientist at the Molecular and Health Technologies, CSIRO said, “Apomab targets dead and dying cancer cells using a monoclonal antibody. To date, Oncaidia has used a monoclonal antibody developed from mouse cells but this is not suitable for human use. CSIRO’s aim is to alter the monoclonal antibody into a form suitable for human use by replacing the majority of the mouse protein with a similar human protein.”

 

Once the new form of the antibody is produced, Oncaidia will be responsible for product manufacture and the conduct of clinical trials.

 

The agreement is part of CSIRO’s Australian Biotech Growth Partnerships program, which enables Australian biotech companies in the human health, veterinary and agriculture biotechnology sectors to leverage off CSIRO’s world-class scientists, infrastructure and networks.