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Corporate

• Ceronco Biosciences is developing new drugs to fight cancer based on the short-chain sphingolipid (SCS) technology discovered in a collaborative research project at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and Erasmus MC.
• Proof of principle has been established in combining the SCS-technology with doxorubicin in highly relevant animal models. Addition of the SCS leads to increase in uptake of doxorubicin, specifically in cancer cells, and subsequently a significant reduction in tumor growth and increase in overall survival. At the same time no increase in severity of expected side effects or new side effects were noted.
• Ceronco is now taking this first product (CB001) into clinical trials, with expected start of the first clinical trial early 2013.

Technology

• A major barrier for uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs is the cellular membrane of a cancer cell. A new class of short-chain sphingolipids (SCS) has been identified which insert themselves into the cellular membrane and lead to catalysis of drug-membrane translocation. This results in increased uptake of a large variety of amphiphilic chemotherapeutic drugs.
• Tumor Cell Membrane Modulation using the SCS-technology is a novel and unique method to increase the efficacy of chemotherpaeutic drugs.

Products

• CB001: GluCer-enhanced liposomal doxorubicin
• CB002: SCS-enhanced mitoxantrone

CEVEC commercializes an innovative platform technology for the production of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals in human cell lines.  

CEVEC’s CAP cells hold high promise for a best-in-class production system for viral vaccines, such as hCMV, Influenza and others, as shown by a recent case study. Compared to leading other cellular production systems (like MDCK) CAP demonstrated outstanding results in view of virus yield, extreme short production cycles and minimal media consumption. CEVEC’s CAP system is suspension based and serum free offering the best starting point for new vaccine production approaches with excellent upscaling possibilities. Being the only remaining independent supplier for human production cell lines, the company sets out to repeat the growth story of Crucell B.V., recently acquired by Johnson & Johnson for 2.4 Bn US$. 

Feasibility studies further demonstrated CAP being a versatile virus production platform with a broad susceptibility for various human-pathogenic human viruses. Commercially significant targets include hCMV, RSV, Influenza, Polio, Measles, AAV, Adenoviruses, Lentiviruses and others. Several lead projects have been identified and planned, including the first human platform for hCMV, together with its partner Vaccine Project Manager, Hannover, Germany.

CEVEC is underway to close another 7-10 Mio. EUR venture round. This investment will be used to push the vaccine lead projects, such as hCMV within 3 years to clinical phase I/IIa results and manage a broad roll-out of its vaccine production technology in order to maximize its company exit value by 2015. Venture investors are still invited to participate in an exciting low-risk and high return growth story. For further information, please click here: www.cevec.com

College Hill Life Sciences is a strategic communications consultancy with over two decades of experience in advising life science organisations worldwide. Our core skill is working with clients to communicate the value of their science and innovation to key stakeholders through the most relevant channels: crafting PR, IR and design solutions that showcase each company, product or technology.

We have earned a formidable reputation for incisive board-level communications counsel. Our deep understanding of the needs and drivers of the life science industry and our entrepreneurial approach comes from our teams’ backgrounds in executive management, R&D, Government, sales & marketing, journalism and finance within the life science sector.

With a track record of delivering truly creative programmes, we focus on enhancing the value proposition for companies seeking investment, partnerships or customers. We form long-standing relationships with our clients in biotech, pharma, medical device and diagnostic companies as well as companies that enable scientific research through the supply of enabling technologies and services. We also advise venture investors and service providers.

Our approach is personal, professional and flexible, with value for money as a principle. We are passionate about our clients’ and about making a difference.

Our globally integrated and dedicated life sciences team serve clients around the world from our bases in London, Manchester, Munich, Boston and Sydney.

Targeting toxic oligomers in misfolded protein diseases is the basis for Crossbeta’s stable oligomer drug discovery platforms which are accessible for partnering in therapeutic areas such as Alzheimer´s, Parkinson’s, Huntington and Diabetes Type 2.

In our Alzheimer program we have recently completed a high throughput screening campaign with 100,000 compounds resulting in the selection of 5 hit classes with >50%  neutralizing effect on oligomer-induced neurotoxicity.

Stable oligomers can also be used as reference in biomarker assays.