Florida Research Consortium

1
Florida Research Consortium

• Catechins As Nontoxic Adjuvant for Cancer
  Chemotheraphy
• Alberto van Olphen, D.V.M., Ph.D.
• Herman Friedman, Ph.D.
• University of South Florida
• Florida Veterinary Specialists
• Tech Transfer Conference
• Hilton Walt Disney World, Orlando FL
• May 18-19, 2005

2
Technology Advantages

• Current cancer chemotherapy causes Neutropenia
  (reduction in the number of neutrophils)
• Chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin are
  antimetabolites that destroy cancer cells, but
  also other normal cells
• Chemotherapy is often suspended in neutropenic
  patients and this may lead to failure of the
  cancer treatment
• Neutropenic patients are at high risk of
  contracting opportunistic microbial infections

3
The Technology

• The proposed technology involves the use of green
  tea derivatives (catechins) to aid in the
  prevention of microbial infections in patients
  receiving chemotherapy for cancer
• The major green tea catechin (also known as
  polyphenols) is EpiGallo Catechin gallate known
  as EGCg
• EGCg has been shown by our group and others to
  enhance immune response to microbial infection

4
A powerful and practical model

• We propose to use pet dogs undergoing cancer
  chemotherapy as a real-life model
• Pets share the same environment than humans
• Pets in general and dogs in particular represent
  a large market in itself
• Alternative medicines are easily adopted by pet
  owners
• Results obtained with this model are a stepping
  stone for human applications

5
Canine Cancer Model
Expected effect of EGCg on cancer patients
Doxorubicin EGCg
Doxorubicin placebo

• Time to cancer remission
• Time to appearance of signs of infection
• Time to cancer recurrence

6
Technology Advantages

• Current therapy includes
• Stimulants of neutrophils production (Granulocyte
  Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor, GM-CSF and
  G-CSF)
• Prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics
• Extremely expensive
• Side effects / Not well tolerated
• EGCg as adjuvant therapy
• Non-toxic
• Relatively inexpensive
• Acts differently than current therapy by
  stimulating the patients immune response

7
Scientific Team at USFDepartment of Medical
Microbiology and Immunology

• Alberto van Olphen
• More than 10 years performing basic and clinical
  research
• Assistant Professor
• D.V.M. UNICEN
• Ph.D. Purdue University
• Dr. Herman Friedman
• More than 40 years directing research in
  immunology and microbiology
• Distinguished Professor
• More than 250 peer review publications
• Numerous awards

8
Scientific Team at

• Dr. Carrie Kosarek, D.V.M
• Board certified veterinary oncologist
• Extensive experience in clinical trials
• Dr. Neil Shaw, D.V.M.
• Director/owner of Florida Veterinary Specialists
  and Cancer Treatment Center

9

• More than 35 veterinarians and more than 90
  technicians
• More than 25,000 patients a year
• 5-25 cancer patients treatments per day
• State of the art facilities

10
Target Industries

• Biomedical pharmaceutical company
• Tremendous need of palliative inexpensive
  therapies
• Nutraceutical market

11
Potential Commercial Impact

• Who needs this technology?
• Patients undergoing cancer treatment with
  anti-metabolites
• What products can be made with this technology?
• Specific formulations/combinations would provide
  proprietary rights

12
Technology Status

• Basic research
• Catechins, in a dose related manner, stimulate
  host immune responses,
• Cytokines and immune cells such as T cells,
  macrophages and dendritic cells.
• We are analyzing the mechanism how catechins
  stimulate immune parameters during chemotherapy
  induced immunesuppression (adriamycin).
• Establishment of dosage in the canine model.
• Intellectual Property Status
• Institutional disclosure

13
What is Next?

• New formulation/combinations
• Multicenter testing
• Funds needed to complete next phase
• 150,000

14
Point of Contact

• For more information contact
• Alberto van Olphen at avanolph_at_hsc.usf.edu
• Herman Friedman at hfriedma_at_hsc.usf.edu
• [phone]