Highlights
- BioDiem's vaccine program targeting liver disease underway at University of Canberra
- Researchers successfully establish new system designed to deliver drugs specifically to the liver
- Poster showing research results presented at China conference on Hepatitis B
- Treatments for viral hepatitis and liver cancer represent large markets where new effective therapies are required.
Melbourne, 24 October 2013: Australian infectious disease
therapy and vaccine development company BioDiem Ltd (ASX: BDM) has
announced that a poster showing results from its hepatitis vaccine
program, which has successfully achieved an important milestone towards
developing treatments for liver diseases as previously announced, was
presented at the 2013 International Meeting on Molecular Biology of
Hepatitis B viruses in Shanghai, China. This meeting is organized by the
Hepatitis B Foundation and is the premier annual international
conference on Hepatitis B. The international meeting covers all aspects
of the biology of hepatitis B and hepatitis D, as well as the latest
developments in antiviral therapies against these two viruses. Attendees
include those working in many areas related to viral hepatitis such as
research into how to treat infected patients and pharmaceutical
companies developing therapies or vaccines related for the disease.
Researchers at the University of Canberra have developed a system
designed to target the liver. This could be used to aim drugs or other
therapies directly at the liver to treat liver-specific diseases such as
viral hepatitis and liver cancer, for example. An advantage of this
targeting could be that smaller dosages of currently used therapies
could be given to liver-disease patients. This could result in higher
cure rates and/or fewer dose-related side effects. As the system has
been successfully designed, work is progressing to establish the range
of potential drugs or therapies that could be delivered to the liver by
this technology. This liver targeting technology is licensed exclusively
(worldwide) to BioDiem and is patent-protected.
"The opportunity to present the University of Canberra research
at this international conference in China is well-timed as we look to
engage with commercial partners to continue the development work of this
liver-targeting technology" said BioDiem CEO Julie Phillips.
An estimated 4.4 million Americans and 112 million Chinese are
living with chronic hepatitis, most of whom do not know they are
infected. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer (HCC) and
the most common reason for liver transplantation. Liver cancer in men
is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, and is the
second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Over 40 per
cent of all cases of HCC occur in the People's Republic of China, which
has an annual incidence of 137,000 cases. The global hepatitis market
was estimated to be $3,276m in 2009, representing a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% between 2001 and 2009. The market is
anticipated to reach revenues of approximately US$5,977m by 2016,
growing at a CAGR of 9% between 2009 and 2016. The chief reason for its
growth is the large chronic carrier hepatitis population primarily
Hepatitis B and C.
About BioDiem Ltd
BioDiem (ASX: BDM) is an ASX-listed biopharmaceutical company developing
vaccines and antimicrobials targeting treatment and prevention of
infectious diseases and related cancers. The lead technology is the LAIV
(Live Attenuated Influenza Virus) used for seasonal and pandemic
influenza vaccines and is given intranasally. A therapeutic hepatitis
vaccine project targeting hepatitis D and B is underway at the
University of Canberra. BioDiem's antimicrobial, BDM-I, is in
preclinical development for fungal and bacterial diseases, also
schistosomiasis, tuberculosis and protozoal infections. The SAVINE
(scrambled antigen) technology is in development for tuberculosis and
also EBV-related disease including nasopharyngeal cancer. BioDiem's
retinal product, BDM-E, in development for retinitis pigmentosa is
available for outlicence.
About BioDiem's Liver-Targeted Technology
The vector, is based on the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) which is a
small, enveloped RNA virus requiring the envelope proteins of a helper
virus, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), for further particle formation. HDV can
only infect hepatocytes and produce virus particles in cells that are
co-infected with HBV. Based on this natural tropism for the liver and
the successful generation of replication competent recombinants this
should enable the delivery of biologically active molecules to the
liver.
For additional information, please visit www.biodiem.com
About University of Canberra
The University of Canberra has a dynamic, innovative and collaborative
research culture with a focus on applied research in areas aligned with
the needs of our local community as well as national and international
research priorities. The University of Canberra's researchers deliver
breakthroughs that help solve real-world problems, particularly in the
areas of governance, environment, communication, education and health.
For more information, please visit http://202.66.146.82/listco/au/biodiem/press/p131024.pdf.
Source: BioDiem Limited
Labels: Research and Discoveries