| Innovative compounds |
Selvita develops its own innovative drugs, which originate from research at Polish universities and later out-licenses them to the customers from the pharmaceutical industry. Selvita is involved in the research projects up to the pre-clinical stage. Our current projects are in the area of oncology, central nervous system, infections and diagnostics. In future we will also be involved in projects in other therapeutic areas. Current research programs at SelvitaSEL24 programPim kinases are one of the most interesting new therapeutic targets which are being currently researched by the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. According to the most recent literature reviews Pim kinases are strongly related to the process of oncogenesis and development of leukemias, prostate cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer and glioblastomas. Pim kinases are downstream in the signaling pathways of several oncogenes like FLT3-ITD, Bcr-Abl or Jak2 and play important role in oncogenic transformation. Thus, Pim kinases emerged as targets of significant importance for therapeutic intervention in various indications. Apart from being overexpressed in many cancer types, the level of these kinase expression correlates with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis formation, as well as it is a marker of poor prognosisSEL24 is a group of compounds which are specific inhibitors of Pim-1 kinase. The best leads from this group are potentially first in class specific Pim-1 inhibitors, which inhibit Pim-1 kinase in low nanomolar concentration (IC50 < 10nM). Pim-1 inhibition goes along with high anti-tumor activity in vitro on tumor cell lines. Compounds from the SEL24 group have been extensively tested in vitro on several cell lines, showing cytotoxic effect in estrogen resistant breast cancer cells, hematopoietic cancers and various other solid tumors. Moreover these compounds also potentiate the cytotoxic activity of gold standards compounds in two leukemia cell lines. These substances have been shown effective also in vivo in mouse xenograft models . The lead compound, SEL24-1 has shown antitumor activity in vivo in 4 different mouse xenograft models of estrogen resistant breast cancer cells, hematopoietic cancers and other solid tumors. Moreover, preliminary results show that SEL24-1 is safe and non toxic in non-neoplastic cells and tissues in vitro and in vivo. SEL24 program is currently in the lead optimisation phase, and first-in-human application is planned for 2012 . SEL103 program Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a collective name for progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Although there are no drugs that can cure Alzheimer's disease, there are some treatments that can help people with Alzheimer's disease. However, better drug treatments are needed, especially due to the aging of human population. Currently there are an estimated 30 million people worldwide with dementia. Two thirds of them live in developing countries. This figure is set to increase to more than 100 million people by 2050. Selvita’s SEL103 program is based on novel, orally bioavailable and highly selective small-molecules which have the potential to play role in the treatment of multiple cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementias, etc. Selvita is developing this project in parthership with Orion Corporation from Espoo, Finland (ORNBV). Selvita will be responsible for early research on the program and Orion will take over the pre-clinical and clinical development as well as further commercialization. SEL103 is expected to enter formal pre-clinical development shortly. Copyright © 2007-2010 Selvita Sp. z o.o. |