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The development of effective and well-tolerated cancer therapies remains a major challenge. Experts from the Molecular Diagnostics Unit at the AIT Center for Health and Bioresources are identifying promising proteins that the immune system apparently recognises as "foreign" in colorectal cancer. These so-called tumour-associated antigens enable new approaches for therapeutic use. The cooperation with wings4innovation GmbH (w4i), the Austrian subsidiary of KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I), resulted in a particularly interesting first target, which now serves as the basis for the development of a specific therapeutic antibody.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and most serious forms of cancer worldwide. Conventional treatment methods often reach their limits, as they are unsuccessful and can also cause severe side effects. There is therefore a great need for new, targeted therapeutics. In order to identify new molecular targets, the AIT uses a differentiated analysis method in which the antibody profile in plasma samples from patients and healthy individuals is compared. In this way, proteins that are recognised as "foreign" by the immune system in tumour diseases can be detected - important starting points for the targeted development of new therapies.
From protein analysis to potential drug
"97 potential target molecules (targets) were identified by the AIT and comprehensively analysed and evaluated by w4i. Among other things, the therapeutic feasibility, relevance for disease progression and prognosis as well as possible patenting strategies were taken into account," explains Dirk Holste, Deputy Head of the Centre for Health and Bioresources at the AIT. As part of a first individual project, KHAN-I will therefore work with AIT and w4i to develop a specific therapeutic antibody against this protein. The aim is to demonstrate the effectiveness of this antibody in suitable model systems and to produce a humanised version that can be used in clinical research in the next step.
Further promising targets from the target list defined by AIT are currently being evaluated on the basis of current data. Furthermore, w4i plans to collect additional data from clinical samples in collaboration with AIT in order to evaluate these targets for further therapeutic applications. "We value AIT's preliminary work and see particular added value in the fact that the potential targets originate from studies with patient material," says Peter Nussbaumer, Managing Director of w4i and member of the fund management team at KHAN-I.
Prospects for the Austrian research landscape
The collaboration between the AIT Centre for Health and Bioresources and w4i/KHAN-I is an example of how validated research results can be gradually translated into new therapeutic concepts by coupling them with technology transfer and the investment fund provided for risk minimisation. This will pave the way for new approaches in pharmacological research that could lead to improved treatment options in the future.
AIT is a partner in the Austrian network of research institutions cooperating with w4i/KHAN-I and has actively supported the establishment of the framework conditions.