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BA-210 |
BA-210 BA-210 is an engineered variant of a naturally occurring bacterial protein known as C3 exoenzyme. After gaining access to the cytoplasm of mammalian cells, it interacts with and specifically inhibits Rho GTPases, which are major intracellular switching molecules that regulate a diversity of cellular functions including motility, growth, and differentiation. Whereas the naturally occurring C3 exoenzyme has a very limited capacity for cellular penetration, BA-210 has been modified to include a transport motif that dramatically enhances its ability to enter the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. In 2004, BioAxone completed the scale-up and cGMP-compliant manufacture of BA-210, meeting one of the most challenging steps of therapeutic protein development. Current data indicates that this recombinant protein biologic is very stable under the appropriate storage conditions, ensuring the necessary shelf-life for clinical trials. |
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Cethrin® Cethrin® consists of BA-210 (the active ingredient) mixed with an approved fibrin sealant that is to be deposited directly at the site of injury during surgery to repair spinal cord injuries. The fibrin sealant component, Tisseel®, is applied directly over the dura of the spinal cord. The mixture rapidly solidifies into a semi-rigid, gel-like clot, serving to optimize the localization of the drug to the proximity of the wound. Moreover, the gradual dissolution of the clot over the ensuing few weeks acts as a form of sustained release, allowing BA-210 to continue infiltrating the region of the injury during this period. BioAxone’s animal research has clearly shown that Cethrin® elicits the repair of damaged CNS neurons. Some of the beneficial actions of Cethrin® application following acute spinal cord injury are as follows: • Inhibition and even reversal of abnormal Rho GTPase activation after just a single dose. • Significant reduction of cell death (apoptosis) at the site of injury. • Promotion of axonal regeneration. • Functional recovery in animals after spinal cord injury, as measured by hind-limb movements using the BBB locomotor rating scale. Cethrin® is currently being evaluated in patients with spinal cord injury in a phase I/IIa multi-center, open-label, dose-escalating clinical trial designed to investigate its safety and potential efficacy. |
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BA-1049 Novel, proprietary Rho kinase inhibitors, have recently been developed in collaboration with the University of Montreal. BA-1049 is one of several lead compounds that have been shown to be effective in reducing proliferation of malignant cells in cancer screens. The compound is undergoing preclinical evaluation for a number of indications including oncology and ophthalmology related indications. |
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© BioAxone Thérapeutique Inc. 2005 |
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