CRT grants rights for targeting technology to Aura

These peptides bind to a protein on the surface of the cell called integrin αγβ6, a protein complex that is found at high levels on many tumour cells but is absent in most normal tissues. By seeking out this protein and binding to it, the peptides are able to deliver cancer treatments directly to the site with increased precision and reduced side effects.

One of the cancers this could have particular benefit in targeting is pancreatic cancer as these tumours express high levels of integrin αγβ6. Pancreatic cancer is currently very difficult to treat with only around 2 to 3 per cent of patients surviving the disease for five years or more. Recent pre-clinical studies have also shown that these peptides may improve imaging in pancreatic cancer by binding to the αγβ6 *.

This deal strengthens Aura’s investment in the technology and builds on an evaluation agreement between Aura and CRT announced earlier this year**. The peptides were originally developed at Queen Mary, University of London with support from Cancer Research UK and DebRA - who work on behalf of people in the UK with the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

Under the terms of the agreement, Aura Biosciences will make an upfront payment to CRT as well as providing clinical development milestones and royalties on future sales. Aura will exclusively fund the development work, and have sub-licensing rights on agreed terms.

Dr Elisabet de los Pinos, chief executive of Aura Biosciences said: “This partnership with CRT enables us to make use of their peptide technology as way to deliver our innovative NanosmartTM treatment particles – which are hollow particles made of nano-sized protein shells - to the tumour with increased accuracy. We are delighted with the progress we have already made in developing the technology and are looking forward to progressing it into potential new treatments for cancer.”

Dr Phil L’Huillier, CRT’s director of business management said: “These peptides - combined with Aura’s award winning nanotechnology - have the potential to seek out and destroy cancer cells, leaving the surrounding areas unharmed. We believe this technology could have particular strengths in delivering treatments for cancers that have limited treatment options such as pancreatic and head and neck cancer. Crucially this targeted treatment could also reduce the side effects that are commonly associated with standard therapies. We look forward to the results of the programme with great interest.”

*Targeted in vivo imaging of integrin avb6 with an improved radiotracer and its relevance in a pancreatic tumour model. S. Hausner. Experimental Therapeutics, Molecular Targets and Chemical Biology. June 23, 2009.  

**You can read more about the press release announcing CRT’s original agreement with Aura here: http://commercial.cancerresearchuk.org/pages/press/02March2009-AuraBiosc... Aura’s NanoSmart™ drug delivery technology was recognized for its long-term potential impact on business and society by the World Economic Forum on 3rd December 2009 when it named Aura Biosciences a 2010 Technology Pioneer. 
These peptides have been licensed exclusively to Aura Biosciences for use in the nanoparticle field. CRT retains the rights to the particles for use in other areas of science.  Some of the original peptide work on this programme was undertaken at the University of Kent.

About Aura Biosciences Inc.

Aura Biosciences, Inc. is applying nanotechnology to help fight cancer in the well-studied area of chemotherapeutics and the emerging field of RNAi.
Aura combines the expertise of leading European and US research institutions, including the German Cancer Research Center, INSERM, the John Innes Centre, Cancer Research Technology, Queen Mary University of London and the University of York with the flexibility and efficiency of a dedicated team of in-house scientists, deal-makers and world class advisors. The company is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.aurabiosciences.com.

About Queen Mary, University of London

Queen Mary, University of London is one of the UK's leading research-focused higher education institutions with some 15,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Amongst the largest of the colleges of the University of London, Queen Mary’s 3,000 staff deliver world class degree programmes and research across 21 academic departments and institutes, within three sectors: Science and Engineering; Humanities, Social Sciences and Laws; and the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Queen Mary is ranked 11th in the UK according to the Guardian analysis of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, and has been described as ‘the biggest star among the research-intensive institutions’ by the Times Higher Education.