Tigris acquired the rights to several small molecules, including GFB-204 and GGTI-2418. The company will pay development based milestones and royalties based on sales of the licensed products, further financial details were not disclosed.
GFB-204 is a potent and selective dual synthetic inhibitor of VEGF and PDGF action. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies have shown that GFB-204 inhibits VEGF- and PDGF-dependent angiogenesis. In animal models, GFB-204 appears active orally against a wide spectrum of human tumors, including lung, prostate, renal, pancreatic, and breast.
GGTI-2418 is a synthetic peptidomimetic inhibitor of geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I) that appears to induce apoptosis by downregulating several pivotal oncogenic and tumor survival pathways. In nude mice xenografts, GGTI-2418 was shown to be highly potent in inhibiting the growth of human breast and lung tumors.
“Tigris is well positioned to quickly develop these molecules, which furthers the mission of our two Universities to leverage academic research thereby benefiting the many patients who await treatment,” said Valerie McDevitt, director of the Division of Patents & Licensing at the University of South Florida.
Tigris plans to initiate phase I clinical trials for both GFB-204 and GGTI-2418 in 2007.