Posted on April 27, 2004 at 11:13 a.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Japanese pharmaceutical company has licensed a monoclonal antibody developed by researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). The agent, TRA-8, has been shown to kill tumor cells in animal models. TRA-8 also has potential for combating diseases of the immune system such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Antibodies are naturally produced by the body's immune system in response to stimuli, including bacteria, viruses and other infectious agents. Monoclonal antibodies are produced in the laboratory and can be genetically engineered to attack a very specific target. TRA-8 is a monoclonal antibody that targets a specific site — known as "death receptor 5" — that is expressed on activated cells including cancer cells and certain immune system cells. When attacked by the antibody, death receptor 5 triggers a flood of enzymes that kill the proliferating cell.
Researchers are particularly excited about TRA-8 because it kills active, proliferating cells while sparing the surrounding healthy cells.
"This is one of the most promising antibodies ever observed by our cancer investigators," says Tong Zhou, M.D., associate professor of medicine and leader of the team that developed TRA-8. "With this agent, there is an opportunity to specifically target activated autoimmune cells, and early studies in humans cells suggest it is effective. Previous studies of TRA-8 used with chemotherapy suggest a potential use in the treatment of breast cancer."
TRA-8 is the product of a research collaboration between UAB and Sankyo Co., Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Sankyo is one of Japan's largest pharmaceutical companies. Sankyo selected UAB as its academic research partner in 1994, following a nationwide competition. The program initially focused on rheumatic diseases and was expanded in 2002 to include cancer research when it became clear that findings could impact both fields.
Today, the UAB/Sankyo Program for Rheumatic Diseases and Cancer Research is one of the largest privately funded research agreements at UAB.
"UAB's collaborative relationship with Sankyo is a model for a successful academic/pharmaceutical partnership," says Dr. William Koopman, chairman of medicine at UAB and director of the UAB/Sankyo program. "We are grateful for Sankyo's strong commitment to research and development with UAB and look forward to many more productive years together."
Sankyo has begun testing TRA-8 in animal models to gauge its safety. If early tests are successful, Phase I clinical trials of TRA-8 in humans could begin in 2005.
Other researchers at UAB working on TRA-8 include Drs. Robert Kimberly, Albert LoBuglio and Donald Buchsbaum.
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