Overview
Perseis Therapeutics Limited (Perseis) is focusing on developing antibody therapeutics to Trefoil Factors (1 and 3) and Growth Hormone for the treatment of breast and other cancers. The intellectual property portfolio was developed by Professor Peter Lobie at the Liggin's Institute, Auckland, New Zealand. Professor Lobie is an international authority on molecular mechanisms of hormone action.
Trefoil factors are classical estrogen-regulated proteins and have been used as markers of estrogen gene regulation. TFFs act as growth factors, and promote cell survival and motility. Recently, TFFs have been linked to cancers, as they play a role in oncogenic growth, cancer cell survival, and metastatic extension of solid tumours. Perseis has developed a unique IP position in the development of therapies targeting the Trefoil Factors 1 and 3, particularly in the treatment of cancers resistant to current therapies.
Within the last two decades it has become better understood that an important action of Growth Hormone is oncogenesis. This is in addition to the classical pituitary actions of hGH. Perseis has demonstrated and patented that targeting hGH with neutralising antibodies has a strong potential therapeutic advantage, particularly in the treatment of breast cancer.
Founding Shareholders
The Breast Cancer Research Trust
The Breast Cancer Research Trust is New Zealand's only not-for-profit organisation established solely to support research into breast cancer and in particular to find a cure by 2018. Funds raised are allocated to only the most outstanding and visionary research and researchers in New Zealand - without restriction to any one institution - its only vested interest being knowledge and breakthroughs in both seed and translational research that move us closer towards a new, brighter, breast cancer-free future.
Neuren Pharmaceuticals
Neuren Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics in the fields of brain injury, neurological diseases and conditions, and cancer. The Neuren portfolio comprises seven product families targeting markets with large unmet needs and limited competition. Neuren has two clinical-stage molecules - Motiva and NNZ-2566 - focused on a range of acute and chronic neurological conditions as well as a number of drug discovery programs focused on important targets in neurology and oncology. Neuren has contributed its intellectual property in cancer into Perseis.
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Research Trust has provided the first tranche of funding to enable Perseis to obtain definitive in vivo proof of efficacy for all three programs. At the end of this first round of funding, Perseis will seek additional funding, licensing or co-development agreements to further the development of these programs.