Bionomics presents new anti-angiogenesis evidence

Adelaide biotech Bionomics (ASX:BNO, BNOOA, US OTC:BMICY) will present new evidence for the therapeutic promise of several molecular antagonists for its proprietary drug target BNO69 in the US today.

Bionomics’ cancer research director Dr Gabriel Kremmidiotis is addressing a symposium at Louisiana State University on new technologies and approaches to treating disease, focusing on the development of new genetic therapies.

Kremmidiotis was invited to discuss recent developments from Bionomics’ Angene platform.

He will present new data on BN069’s role in blood-vessel growth. His research group has developed several molecules that program the synthesis of double-stranded RNAi molecules which, by silencing the expression of BN069, simultaneously inhibit the genes for Vascular Enthothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (BrGF).

This dual action indicates that BN069 functions at the point where the VEGF and bFGF signalling pathways converge. Both are key players in angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to fuel the rampant growth of all solid tumours.

Drug companies around the world are working to develop drug- or gene-based approaches to inhibiting angiogenesis, because of their potential as generic therapies for a wide range of solid tumours.

Current angiogenesis inhibitors primarily target the VEGF pathway, and Bionomics believes a BN069 blocker would be a more effective therapy, by inhibiting both VEGF and bFGF.

Bionomics has patents pending on both the BNO69 target, and its DNA-based silencers.