Tranosyl - Infinity Medical Engineering
Transcription
Tranosyl - Infinity Medical Engineering
Tranosyl™ t-RNA & Ribosomal RNA Inhibitors Against Acute Myeloid Leukemia Immunotrex Biologics, Inc Syed K. Hasan M.D. Ph.D. – CEO/President Michael McDaniel – CEO/President Infinity Medical Engineering Immunotrex Biologics, Inc. Infinity Medical Engineering, LLC Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Overview The Central Dogma: A Brief History RNA Interference Tranosyl™: Mechanism of Action Methodology Tranosyl™: Selective Targeting Tranosyl™ Attributes 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 2 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The “Central Dogma” of Molecular Biology In 1958, Francis Crick explained the flow of genetic information within a biological system. Information is stored within an organism’s DNA, transcribed into RNA and translated into protein. An organism regulates its biological function at the molecular level in response to cellular needs. Mutations within the DNA often lead to the synthesis of irregular or dysfunctional protein. Since proteins are the molecular actuators and regulators of cellular process, errors in protein production directly affect cell viability. A great deal of energy and intellectual effort has been expended in pursuit of the “holy grail” of direct manipulation of the DNA “source code” in an attempt to prevent and/or cure genetic disease. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 3 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology DNA is an elusive target The difficulty of manipulating specific DNA sequences can be largely attributed to its location and packaging. DNA is housed within the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell, and is complexed with histones in a densely packed state. This difficulty in accessing and effecting changes in DNA has focused efforts on the second stage of the “central dogma” – RNA. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL Image courtesy of the Center for Cancer Research: www.ccr.cancer.gov 4 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Messenger RNA is specific Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a rational therapeutic target. Messenger RNA codes specifically for each protein produced by a cell. If you can influence a specific messenger RNA, you can regulate a specific protein… Used with permission: [email protected] 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 5 RNA INTERFERENCE 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 6 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Small Interference RNA (siRNA): A Regulatory Mechanism The 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Andrew Fire and Craig C. Mello for their discovery of RNA interference in 1998. RNA interference effectively silences specific gene expression by binding messenger RNA (mRNA). A bound mRNA is biologically inactive; it RNA Interference Overview cannot be translated into its intended protein. mRNA interference inhibits specific protein production. Micro RNA (miRNA) was discovered in the 1990s, but was only understood to be an endogenous regulatory mechanism in the early 2000s. Regulation by miRNAs is another form of RNA interference. http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/chemie/jhartig/ 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 7 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Interference: Endogenous microRNA Interference Elements of endogenous RNA interference by microRNA (miRNA): • Endogenous miRNA interference is semi-specific—It is believed that a relatively small number of miRNAs (~1000) are responsible for regulating a majority (~60%) of human genes. • A single miRNA modulates multiple mRNA transcripts. This is accomplished through variability in the binding complementarity. • Variable binding complementarity results in “transient” binding of an mRNA, and transient protein regulation. The ability to regulate gene expression (protein production) by microRNA interference has been well documented. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 8 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Interference: Exogenous siRNA Interference Exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA)—both double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and small hairpin RNA (shRNA)—share the following characteristics: • Exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference is specific—Each exogenous siRNA binds a single mRNA transcript. This is accomplished through full complementarity in the binding region. • Efficacy of exogenously induced mRNA interference is limited due to its specificity. Specificity results in enhanced binding, but poses difficulty in targeting within the cellular matrix. • Targeting diverse populations of mRNA with exogenous siRNA requires multiple therapeutic siRNAs. The ability to regulate gene expression (protein production) by exogenous siRNA interference has been demonstrated. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 9 TRANOSYL™ MECHANISM OF ACTION 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 10 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Ribosomes: The protein factory of the cell The ribosome is the site of protein production within the cell. Ribosomal complexes (40S + 60S subunits) form in response to the presence of messenger RNA (mRNA). Messenger RNA is translated in ribosomal complexes. Proteins are formed by the addition of amino acids as directed by the messenger RNA. The primary structure of protein is formed by elongation at the ribosomal-mRNA interface, one specific amino acid at a time, in assembly line fashion. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 60S 40S Small (40S) and Large (60S) subunits join to form a functional ribosome. 11 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Transfer RNA delivers amino acids to the ribosome Amino acids are transported to the ribosomes by transfer-RNA (t-RNA). There are approximately 45 different human t-RNAs. The cloverleaf secondary structure is well conserved. 2⁰ Structure 3⁰ Structure Anticodon Used with permission: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Yikrazuul 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 12 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology A Question of Logistics Each mRNA codes for a specific amino acid sequence assembled by a ribosome. Every amino acid is delivered to the ribosome by transfer RNA. If the delivery of amino acids is disrupted… …protein synthesis is disrupted. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 13 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Disruption of t-RNA docking impedes protein synthesis Docking of the t-RNA is required for amino acid transfer in initiation and/or elongation of the polypeptide. Tranosyl™ is designed to interfere with global protein synthesis within the target cell by disrupting t-RNA docking in the ribosomal cleft. The mechanism is interference through binding the D arm of transfer RNA. t-RNA t-RNA + Tranosyl™ Tranosyl™ Amino Acid “D” arm Anticodon 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 14 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Translation: a quick review 6. A “STOP” codon is reached; subunits dissociate, the protein is released. 5. Subsequent t-RNAs are cv processed, elongating the peptide. 60S The steps marked in magenta are suppressed by Tranosyl™. 2. Large (60S) ribosomal subunit complexes with 40S subunit. 1. Small (40S) ribosomal subunit binds mRNA. 40S 3. Ribosome is activated and t-RNAs are evaluated. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 4. Successful binding of valid cv t-RNA initiates peptide synthesis. 15 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Translation in the absence of Tranosyl™ A simple schematic of the transfer RNA (t-RNA) docking process. t-RNA Ribosomal Docking Site Amino Acid Protein 60S Synthesis mRNA 40S “D” arm of t-RNA Up-regulation of t-RNA has been demonstrated in cancer cells. Translation is up-regulated in response to increased metabolic demand for global protein. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 16 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Tranosyl™ impedes translation Tranosyl™ interferes with global protein synthesis by disrupting t-RNA docking in the ribosomal cleft. The mechanism is small hairpin RNA interference (shRNAi) binding the “D” arm of transfer RNA, or the ribosomal docking site. t-RNA + Tranosyl™ Ribosomal Docking Site Amino Acid 60S Protein Synthesis mRNA 40S “D” arm of t-RNA 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 17 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Targeted Apoptosis The effective action of Tranosyl™ is to reduce global protein production rate and availability, leading to global protein deficit within the targeted cell. This will in turn drive the target cell to apoptosis. Apoptosis is an intrinsic mechanism to eliminate cells with decreased viability. In a normal, healthy adult, it is estimated 50-70 billion cells a day die through apoptosis. Apoptosis is a response by the cell to biochemical stress which cannot be remediated. Tranosyl Block Translation Impede Protein Synthesis Trigger Apoptosis Cells that undergo programmed cell death are naturally degraded and eliminated from the body. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL Caspase-3 – An Apoptotic Initiator 18 ™ METHODOLOGY 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 19 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process Tranosyl™ is a small peptide biologic, developed and produced using proven bioengineering techniques: Custom complementary DNA strands are synthesized. Strand 1 Strand 2 Strands hybridize, forming the DNA template. “Sticky” ends The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) insert is ready for ligation into vector. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 20 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process The dsDNA plasmid vector codes for the Protein Transport Capsule (PTC). The PTC vector is cut with specific restriction enzymes. Restriction Enzymes The PTC vector has complementary “sticky ends.” dsDNA Templates PTC shRNA 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 21 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process Ligation of the dsDNA template strand with the PTC vector yields a complete Tranosyl plasmid. The dsDNA insert and PTC vector are joined. Ligation The result is a complete dsDNA plasmid. dsDNA Templates PTC shRNA 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 22 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process The (shRNA + PTC) plasmid containing the “blueprint” for production of Tranosyl is now transfected into bacteria. The plasmid is transfected into competent bacteria. Transfect Only transfected bacteria grow on selective media, forming clonal colonies. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 23 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process The (shRNA + PTC) plasmid containing the “blueprint” for production of Tranosyl is now transfected into bacteria. The plasmid directs expression of the Protein Transport Capsule and the Tranosyl shRNA. Bacteria PTC shRNA The resultant bacteria contains Tranosyl shRNA within the Protein Transport Capsule. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 24 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process Clonal colonies are derived from a single bacterium which has successfully integrated the (shRNA +PTC) plasmid, which confers selective viability. Clones are harvested … …and cultured. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 25 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology The Production Process Tranosyl™ is purified and is ready for administration. Bacteria are lysed and Tranosyl is purified using standard chromatography. Lysis Purification 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 26 TRANOSYL™: SELECTIVE TARGETING 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 27 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Selective Targeting and Therapeutic Administration Tranosyl is targeted to induce apoptosis by selective binding to specific cell surface receptors, which are over expressed on malignant cells. Surface cell receptors are recognized by the Protein Transport Carrier. Tranosyl binds to the surface in preparation for endocytosis. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 28 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Selective Targeting and Therapeutic Administration Tranosyl™ is brought into the cell in response to binding cell surface receptors. Inside the cell, the Protein Transport Capsule releases the Tranosyl shRNA. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 29 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology RNA Interference: A Regulatory Mechanism RNA interference effectively silences specific gene expression by binding messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA interference inhibits specific protein RNA Interference Overview production. RNA Inhibition Targeting mRNA = specific protein t-RNA = global protein Tranosyl™ http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/chemie/jhartig/ 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 30 TRANOSYL™: ATTRIBUTES 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 31 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Rational Design of Tranosyl Tranosyl™ is rationally designed to leverage proven molecular biology tools and innate physiological systems to develop a novel targeted therapeutic against cancer. Features include: 03/22/2014 • Synthesis of specific dsDNA sequence templates • Bioengineered protein encapsulation of dsDNA templates • Characterization of malignant cell surface receptor target • Built-in specificity of docking to malignant cell • Surface receptor activated endocytosis • Utilization of intrinsic RNA interference pathway • shRNA interference of novel target: t-RNA • Trigger apoptosis and destroy malignant cell © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 32 Tranosyl™ t-RNA & rRNA Inhibitor Cancer Therapeutic Technology Anticipated Benefits Tranosyl is designed to provide an alternative to current therapeutic intervention in cancer. Immunotrex envisions a number of possible benefits: 03/22/2014 • Utilization of intrinsic biological systems should minimize unpleasant side effects of treatment. • Minimal expected toxicity. Tranosyl is a small molecule biologic. • Elimination from the body via natural excretory process • Non-infectious. Tranosyl is not self-replicating. • Immunotrex expects minimal immune response. • Tranosyl is flexible. Immunotrex has chosen Acute Myeloid Leukemia as its investigational model. Adaptation to other malignancies may be achieved by modification of the Protein Transport Capsule targeting mechanism. © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 33 Intellectual Property • International Patent Application: WO 2008/131348 A2 • Title: COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF UNCONTROLLED CELL GROWTH • M&G Ref: PCT/US2008/061038 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 34 Acknowledgments Dr. Michael Graves, Ph.D. Molecular Biology University of Massachusetts - Lowell Scientific Advisor 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 35 Thank You Immunotrex Biologics and Infinity Medical Engineering appreciates the opportunity to present our Tranosyl™ anti-cancer therapeutic technology platform. 03/22/2014 © 2014 Immunotrex Biologics CONFIDENTIAL 36