TransTech Pharma and Columbia University Enter Into an Exclusive License & Research Agreement on RAGE

June 05, 2000 09:01 AM ET
PR Newswire

HIGH POINT, NC., June 5, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- TransTech Pharma, Inc. announced today that the company has signed an exclusive license and research agreement with Columbia University for the "Receptor for Advanced Glygation Endproducts" (RAGE) technology.

TTP has already discovered several novel and potent small molecule RAGE antagonists using its proprietary high-throughput medicinal chemistry (HTMC^™) platform technology. RAGE, a member of the immunoglobulin super family, binds several classes of ligands, including AGEs, S100/calgranulins, amphoterin, and amyloid fibrils. Studies link RAGE/ligand interaction to the pathogenesis of cellular and organ dysfunction in a range of conditions, including the most recent finding in metastases reported in Nature on May 18, 2000.

The agreement gives TTP worldwide exclusive rights to all the RAGE technology discovered by Columbia scientists. Under the agreement, Columbia will profile RAGE small molecule antagonists discovered at TTP in animal models Columbia has developed for inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and diabetic complications. 'The pharmacological profile, combined with the lack of toxicity in all studies performed to date, is very impressive. We are, therefore, actively pursuing the preclinical toxicology on sRAGE in conjunction with the development of orally available, small molecule RAGE antagonists and the Columbia relationship will strengthen this effort," Dr. Adnan Mjalli, President and CEO, said.

"This collaboration combines leading edge biologic research on a receptor target with therapeutic implications for multiple chronic diseases with TTP’s expeditious approach to drug discovery," said Dr. Eric Rose, Chairman of the Board of TransTech Pharma, Inc.

"I am delighted with this collaboration and partnership. We are very impressed with Up’s HTMC^™ platform and their ability to discover and develop novel small molecule RAGE antagonists for the treatment of chronic and acute life-threatening diseases," said Dr. David Stern, a leading RAGE researcher and Professor of Surgical Science at Columbia.

TTP is currently using its HTMC^™ technology to expedite the discovery and development of drugs aimed at treating diabetes and its complications, inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and thrombosis.

TTP is headquartered in a new 14,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art- facility at Piedmont Center in High Point, North Carolina.