Acquisitions, collaborations, and mergers have become a common practice in the medical and biotechnology sector in recent years. Speaking of one such incidence, Ascentage Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company engrossed in development of novel therapies for cancers, CHB, and age-related diseases, has announced entering into an agreement with the University of Michigan (U-M).
Apparently, this novel move would allow the former company to obtain limited rights to a MDM2 protein degrader produced using the PROTAC technology.
Considered to be a key regulator of tumor suppressor p35, MDM2 is one of the most effective inhibitors of apoptosis discovered so far. It boasts of high expression in tumors and plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of tumors.
Binding potentially to the MDM2 protein with high attraction, MDM2 inhibitor blocks MDM2-p53 interactions while restoring the tumor suppressing activity of the drug. Inclusion of PROTAC technology has been claimed to catalyze the result of MDM2 protein degraders.
In fact, the technology has emerged as a new and promising approach that induces degradation of targeted proteins via UPS (ubiquitin-proteasome system), while gaining massive momentum across both the industries and scientific community since its launch.
Speaking on this decent agreement, Co-founder of Ascentage Pharma & Chairman of its Scientific Advisory Board, and Director of Michigan Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Michigan, Prof. Shaomeng Wang, Ph.D, reportedly cited that PROTAC-catalyzed MDM2 degradation does not only enhance the effectiveness of MDM2 inhibitors, but also maintains an enduring suppression of MDM2 protein levels, offering a new policy to the treatment of MDM2-driven tumors like leukemia.
Furthermore, the organization is looking forward to carrying out additional development of the asset along with Ascentage, said Prof. Wang.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dajun Yang, CEO & Chairman of Ascentage Pharma, stated that the company is pleased to reach the terms of agreement with the University of Michigan to commence the assessment of PROTAC-based MDM2 degrader, while potentially introducing this important addition to its existing portfolio of products. This novel development would offer and efficient therapy for serious unmet medical needs in the near future.