DiscoveryBioMed

Echelon Biosciences is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Near Infrared Substrates for Imaging Autotaxin Activity In Vivo. Their project aims to synthesize ATXRed, an in vivo imaging agent that is specifically activated by the enzymatic activity of autotaxin. Autotaxin is an extracellular enzyme that generates the phospholipid growth factor lysophophatidic acid (LPA). LPA is involved in a variety of biological functions, such as angiogenesis, wound healing, brain development, immunological competence and the regulation of blood pressure. Both LPA and autotaxin have also been implicated in numerous diseases, especially metastatic cancer. Autotaxin was identified as one of the 40 most induced genes in aggressive breast cancer. The broader impacts of this research are the discovery and commercialization of tools that easily highlight specific biological pathways in living organisms. ATXRed will be welcomed by basic researchers in many fields associated with autotaxin and LPA. However, the utility extends beyond the basic research sphere. ATXRed smart probes could also aid pharmaceutical researchers searching for pharmacological inhibitors of autotaxin and LPA receptor agonists and antagonists. ATXRed would be a powerful tool in many rodent models of human cancer. In vivo autotaxin imaging probes could also aid in the clinic by helping to identify and monitor disease progression and treatment. Ultimately, ATXRed could help guide surgical resection of tumorstumors previously identified by the smart probe to have elevated autotaxin activity. In total, ATXRed probes have the potential to impact basic research, drug discovery and the clinic as a prime example of molecular medicine applied from bench to bedside.

Welichem Biotech Inc. ("Welichem", TSX-V: WBI) is engaged in the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics. Using its Symbiochem technology platform, the Company has developed a robust pipeline of patent-protected compounds that target autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancers. Welichem's lead drug candidate, WBI-1001, targets autoimmune/inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis and eczema. A phase I clinical trial of WBI-1001, done in Montreal, in patients with psoriasis has shown a very good safety profile and promising efficacy. As well, the application of WBI-1001 cream against atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) in a phase IIa clinical trial also has been completed in Canada, with the final report pending in the third quarter of 2008. Welichem plans to all the necessary Phase II Clinical Trials against psoriasis and eczema in the near future. In the company's pipeline, WBI-1001 related compounds are being evaluated also for their therapeutic potential against other autoimmune diseases such as, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Welichem's other lead drug candidate, WBI-2100, selectively targets certain types of hard-to-treat cancerous tumours. This is achieved in part through inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis. Animal tests have shown that WBI-2100 is effective as a monotherapy and also in increasing the effectiveness of several commonly used chemotherapeutic products. The uniqueness of this small molecule cancer chemotherapeutic is that in pre-clinical studies it increases the number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood. The boosting of neutrophils in animal studies in the presence of the cancer therapeutic, cyclophosphamide, supports its potential therapeutic application for chemotherapy induced neutropenia. With its proven Symbiochem; technology platform, Welichem will advance its pipeline of drug candidates at a rate and time commensurate with resources and target need, and is in a strong position to contribute effectively to productive drug discovery and development partnerships.

Carmot Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. It is focused on the discovery and development of disease-modifying therapies for people living with metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes. It utilizes chemotype evolution, a pioneering drug discovery platform, to identify novel incretin receptor signaling targets and develop a broad pipeline of therapeutics. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Berkeley, California.

Active Pass is a Canadian biotechnology company that is engaging in genomic-based drug discovery and is developing drugs that inhibit ABC transporters. ABC or (ATP binding cassette) is a term that describes the interconnected group of molecular engines or pumps that function as a transportation system which moves compounds across the biological membranes. These ABCs are very closely associated with human diseases like Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. The Active Pass management team is an accomplished group with experience in many aspects of drug discovery and development. Besides employing full time pharmaceutical development professionals, Active Pass has made wise use of a group of several key partnerships with different pharmaceutical groups. The company cultivates these partnerships in order to access new capabilities or expertise to advance the company's own technologies. More specifically, these partnerships include the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Organization as well as the National Institute of Health). The company hopes to add new personnel to cover emerging areas of emphasis like clinical and regulatory affairs, business development and finance as they grow.

IIT Research Institute (IITRI) is a contract research organization (CRO) that aims to provide non-clinical toxicology and other drug development services to government and industry. IITRI offers particular expertise in oncologics drug development, inhalation toxicology and technology, carcinogenesis and cancer prevention, and biodefense. IITRI's Drug Discovery Division is a research-based group whose focus is the design and synthesis of new small molecule therapeutics for cancer and infectious disease.

VivoPath is a preclinical screening company, offering the company's clients discovery and development services for in vivo testing. VivoPath aims to provide integrated in vivo studies led by established experts in drug development. Efficacy is established for animal models in the areas of metabolic disease, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease, and infectious diseases. Formulation screening is carried out to select the most appropriate delivery system for administration. Pharmacokinetic evaluation is carried out to assess exposure and bioavailability. Tolerability is assessed with evaluations of clinical signs, clinical chemistry and hematology. The resulting program aims to deliver the client an in vivo therapeutic index (TI) report on which to assess candidates for subsequent development. VivoPath can also help clients at any individual step in this preclinical screening process. VivoPath's commitment is to provide scientific expertise in in vivo drug discovery in order to increase productivity from research into drug development.