...HATTIESBURG, Miss. - When National Science Foundation reviewers
approved a $100,000 grant for a startup company in Hattiesburg, reviewers
made an interesting comment.
...“This is very risky but very exciting research,” said the NSF reviewers,
“and has the potential to be a game-changing cancer therapy.”
...Not bad for a small, new company.
...“I definitely hope it will have a significant impact on future cancer therapy,”
said Nick Hammond, chief technology officer of Ablitech Inc.
...Ablitech, which is incubating at the University of Southern Mississippi in the
Mississippi Polymer Institute, combines experts in the fields of polymer
research and medicinal chemistry to come up with radical products.
...One of its first products was a new approach to coronary stents. But it’s the
latest technology in cancer therapy that prompted the comment from NSF
reviewers. Ablitech found a way to deliver a known cancer killer to the target
and protect it from being broken down by the body’s enzymes.
The technology
...The work on the cancer treatment involved developing a way to deliver
Silencing RNA (siRNA), a known cancer-killer, to the targeted cancer and
protecting it from being devoured by liver enzymes until it can do its work.
...“What we’re doing is developing a delivery system rather than the Silencing
RNA itself,” said Hammond.
...Ablitech developed a way to protect siRNA by attaching tailored polymers
around it – PolyRNA.
...There were several hurdles that had to be overcome during Phase I
research. For siRNA to be successful, it has to be protected from degradation.
A standard drug has a half-life of 12 to 18 hours. But for siRNA half-life is
just 15 to 20 minutes. Ablitech also had to find an efficient way to get the
drug to the target site and be absorbed.
...Hammond called the Phase I work very promising.
...“The results from Phase I strongly indicate that the PolyRNA technology
protects the siRNA … and allows for the release of the siRNA in a functional
form,” he said. “This means that the PolyRNA technology is a strong
candidate to be further examined for the delivery of siRNA.”
...The next step is Phase II funding.
University origin
...Ablitech was formed by then graduate students Hammond and Lisa Kemp
as a result of a National Science Foundation-backed program to foster
entrepreneurship at the interface of medicinal chemistry and polymer science.
...The initial effort of Hammond, Kemp and associates was the development
of a new drug-eluding coating for coronary stents. The stent – used to open
blocked arteries – is made of a polymer rather than wire mesh. It’s rigid when
put into the body, but becomes flexible and permeable over time so it moves
with the body.
...Ablitech works closely with The University of Mississippi's Medicinal
Chemistry Department and The University of Southern Mississippi's School
of Polymers and High Performance Materials, which provides extensive
mentorship for graduate students in these fields for identifying new market
opportunities.
...What else is in the works?
...“PolyRNA is one of many radical new technologies for healing the human
body which Ablitech is developing", said Hammond. - David Tortorano
April 2009
approved a $100,000 grant for a startup company in Hattiesburg, reviewers
made an interesting comment.
...“This is very risky but very exciting research,” said the NSF reviewers,
“and has the potential to be a game-changing cancer therapy.”
...Not bad for a small, new company.
...“I definitely hope it will have a significant impact on future cancer therapy,”
said Nick Hammond, chief technology officer of Ablitech Inc.
...Ablitech, which is incubating at the University of Southern Mississippi in the
Mississippi Polymer Institute, combines experts in the fields of polymer
research and medicinal chemistry to come up with radical products.
...One of its first products was a new approach to coronary stents. But it’s the
latest technology in cancer therapy that prompted the comment from NSF
reviewers. Ablitech found a way to deliver a known cancer killer to the target
and protect it from being broken down by the body’s enzymes.
The technology
...The work on the cancer treatment involved developing a way to deliver
Silencing RNA (siRNA), a known cancer-killer, to the targeted cancer and
protecting it from being devoured by liver enzymes until it can do its work.
...“What we’re doing is developing a delivery system rather than the Silencing
RNA itself,” said Hammond.
...Ablitech developed a way to protect siRNA by attaching tailored polymers
around it – PolyRNA.
...There were several hurdles that had to be overcome during Phase I
research. For siRNA to be successful, it has to be protected from degradation.
A standard drug has a half-life of 12 to 18 hours. But for siRNA half-life is
just 15 to 20 minutes. Ablitech also had to find an efficient way to get the
drug to the target site and be absorbed.
...Hammond called the Phase I work very promising.
...“The results from Phase I strongly indicate that the PolyRNA technology
protects the siRNA … and allows for the release of the siRNA in a functional
form,” he said. “This means that the PolyRNA technology is a strong
candidate to be further examined for the delivery of siRNA.”
...The next step is Phase II funding.
University origin
...Ablitech was formed by then graduate students Hammond and Lisa Kemp
as a result of a National Science Foundation-backed program to foster
entrepreneurship at the interface of medicinal chemistry and polymer science.
...The initial effort of Hammond, Kemp and associates was the development
of a new drug-eluding coating for coronary stents. The stent – used to open
blocked arteries – is made of a polymer rather than wire mesh. It’s rigid when
put into the body, but becomes flexible and permeable over time so it moves
with the body.
...Ablitech works closely with The University of Mississippi's Medicinal
Chemistry Department and The University of Southern Mississippi's School
of Polymers and High Performance Materials, which provides extensive
mentorship for graduate students in these fields for identifying new market
opportunities.
...What else is in the works?
...“PolyRNA is one of many radical new technologies for healing the human
body which Ablitech is developing", said Hammond. - David Tortorano
April 2009
Advanced materials
Ablitech: Changing cancer treatment?
Ablitech: Changing cancer treatment?
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