Molecular Horizons Seminar - Senior Professor Marie Ranson and Professor Michael Kelso

Senior Professor Ranson will provide an overview of the discovery and attempts to commercialise (from academia) a novel antimetastasis drug for use in cancer. This project was initiated by Professor Kelso when he first joined UOW as an NHMRC CJ Martin Research Fellow in 2006. Prof Kelso recognised the potential of amiloride derivatives to target a driver of cancer metastasis, called urokinase (uPA), which Senior Professor Ranson was extensively researching. In a fruitful medicinal chemistry collaboration spanning 15+ years and with funding from multiple sources, including the NHMRC, together they discovered, patented (now lapsed) and provided in vivo proof-of-concept for a highly selective and potent anti-metastatic uPA inhibitor derived from amiloride (BB2-30F) for potential use in aggressive pancreatic cancer. The highlights, challenges and ultimately, missed opportunities, of this cross-disciplinary academic cancer drug development effort will be discussed. 

Professor Kelso will provide an overview of Race Oncology, focussing on the organisation’s structure and the types of roles and positions that operate within a modern ASX-listed, R&D-focussed ‘virtual’ pharmaceutical company. The company’s strategy for reviving the development of an old chemotherapeutic drug, bisantrene (discovered in the 1970’s), will be outlined, while emphasising the considerable challenges, including creation of novel IP, addressing unmet medical needs in the highly competitive oncology setting and generating commercial value. Key formulation and preclinical R&D discoveries that addressed these challenges will be presented.