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Arbor Vita Presents New Data on Cancer Diagnostic at EUrogin
International Conference on Cervical Cancer Prevention
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NICE, FRANCE -- (Marketwire) -- 11/14/08 -- Arbor Vita Corporation (AVC), a privately heldbiopharmaceutical company, presented new data today on its rapid,point-of-care prototype HPV test with a high positive predictive value forcervical cancer and pre-cancer. Targeted for use throughout the developingworld, this diagnostic test is being developed in partnership with PATH.The presentation, "Development of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for CervicalPre-Cancer and Cancer," was given during the "Molecular Markers" session atEurogin 2008, an international conference providing a comprehensiveoverview of current scientific advances in the field of cervical cancercontrol, including early detection.
AVC Vice President of Cervical Cancer Programs Johannes Schweizer, Ph.D.,presented results of a prototype rapid cervical cancer diagnostic test thatwas designed using AVC's PDZ discovery platform. This E6 strip test, now indevelopment, detects the E6 oncoprotein produced by the humanpapillomavirus (HPV), the principal cause of cervical cancer. E6 is adiagnostic marker of high positive predictive value for cervical cancerbecause of its clinically relevant activity. The test is engineered tospecifically detect E6 oncoprotein ofhigh-risk HPV which, in concert with E7, is necessary for oncogenictransformation of cervical epithelial cells.
Previously, AVC has demonstrated E6 specificity for detecting the HPV16strain, which is responsible for approximately 50% of all cervical cancers.The new data expands this research to detect three different strains,HPV16, HPV18 and HPV45, which together account for 80% of cervical cancers.The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a multiplex test thatdetects the seven most prevalent HPV types which are known to progress tocervical cancer. The simple, easy-to-use test is designed to be used as acancer-screening tool in low resource settings such as in developingcountries, where appropriate methods for screening for cervical pre-cancerand cancer are still insufficient.
Dr. Schweizer commented, "Early detection of cancer-causing HPV infectionis critical for the potential prevention and/or treatment of cervicalcancer. Although only a very small number of HPV infections progress tocervical cancer, monitoring the E6 protein level -- because of itscancer-causing activity -- may prove to be a simple and cost-efficient testto identify women at risk for cervical cancer."
The E6 Strip Test
The E6 strip test is based on the finding that the E6 protein of allhigh-risk HPV but none of the low-risk HPV bind to cellular PDZ domains.PDZ domains are conserved throughout numerous cellular proteins, mediatingprotein-protein interaction of crucial importance for various cellularfunctions. Accumulating evidence suggests that the oncogenic potency of E6depends on its binding to cellular PDZ domains. For the E6 strip test, agenetically engineered PDZ-containing protein is used for capture of allhigh-risk HPV-E6, detection of captured E6 oncoprotein occurs via anti-E6monoclonal antibodies. The format of the E6 strip test allows for a robustand cost effective assay, and the use of an oncoprotein as a diagnostictool may enable the test to achieve a high positive predictive value forthose at risk of progressing to cervical cancer.
About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by infection with the humanpapillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted diseaseswith an estimated 5.5 million new infections per year in the U.S. alone.According to the American Cancer Society, oncogenic HPV infections willresult in 11,070 new cases of invasive cervical cancer and 3,870 deathsthis year in the U.S.
The "Pap smear" is the predominant screening method for cervical cancer andpre-cancerous lesions, despite its substantial false negative and falsepositive rates. Recently introduced HPV DNA-based tests detect infectionrather than progression of the virus toward cervical cancer; since most HPVinfections resolve without treatment, DNA tests may have limited value.Because AVC's test detects the viral protein that leads to cervical cancer,it may provide a potential life-saving tool for women with HPV infection atrisk of progressing to cervical cancer.
About Arbor Vita Corporation
Arbor Vita (www.arborvita.com) is a biopharmaceutical company pioneeringthe discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs anddiagnostics through a new family of targets -- PDZ proteins. PDZ proteinsare key cellular organizers in human signaling pathways. Recruited by viralpathogens, PDZ proteins are highly conserved and provide an ideal platformfor identification of diagnostic markers for cancers, infectious diseasesand other complex diseases. The company capitalizes on its unique mix ofexpertise, intellectual property, and novel PDZ drug discovery platform toaccelerate discovery and development programs for both therapeutics anddiagnostics. Arbor Vita's current programs address major health areasincluding complex diseases such as cervical cancer and stroke, as well asinfectious diseases such as influenza.
Media Contact:Debra Bannister530 676-8001Email Contact
Previously, AVC has demonstrated E6 specificity for detecting the HPV16strain, which is responsible for approximately 50% of all cervical cancers.The new data expands this research to detect three different strains,HPV16, HPV18 and HPV45, which together account for 80% of cervical cancers.The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a multiplex test thatdetects the seven most prevalent HPV types which are known to progress tocervical cancer. The simple, easy-to-use test is designed to be used as acancer-screening tool in low resource settings such as in developingcountries, where appropriate methods for screening for cervical pre-cancerand cancer are still insufficient.
Dr. Schweizer commented, "Early detection of cancer-causing HPV infectionis critical for the potential prevention and/or treatment of cervicalcancer. Although only a very small number of HPV infections progress tocervical cancer, monitoring the E6 protein level -- because of itscancer-causing activity -- may prove to be a simple and cost-efficient testto identify women at risk for cervical cancer."
The E6 Strip Test
The E6 strip test is based on the finding that the E6 protein of allhigh-risk HPV but none of the low-risk HPV bind to cellular PDZ domains.PDZ domains are conserved throughout numerous cellular proteins, mediatingprotein-protein interaction of crucial importance for various cellularfunctions. Accumulating evidence suggests that the oncogenic potency of E6depends on its binding to cellular PDZ domains. For the E6 strip test, agenetically engineered PDZ-containing protein is used for capture of allhigh-risk HPV-E6, detection of captured E6 oncoprotein occurs via anti-E6monoclonal antibodies. The format of the E6 strip test allows for a robustand cost effective assay, and the use of an oncoprotein as a diagnostictool may enable the test to achieve a high positive predictive value forthose at risk of progressing to cervical cancer.
About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by infection with the humanpapillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted diseaseswith an estimated 5.5 million new infections per year in the U.S. alone.According to the American Cancer Society, oncogenic HPV infections willresult in 11,070 new cases of invasive cervical cancer and 3,870 deathsthis year in the U.S.
The "Pap smear" is the predominant screening method for cervical cancer andpre-cancerous lesions, despite its substantial false negative and falsepositive rates. Recently introduced HPV DNA-based tests detect infectionrather than progression of the virus toward cervical cancer; since most HPVinfections resolve without treatment, DNA tests may have limited value.Because AVC's test detects the viral protein that leads to cervical cancer,it may provide a potential life-saving tool for women with HPV infection atrisk of progressing to cervical cancer.
About Arbor Vita Corporation
Arbor Vita (www.arborvita.com) is a biopharmaceutical company pioneeringthe discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs anddiagnostics through a new family of targets -- PDZ proteins. PDZ proteinsare key cellular organizers in human signaling pathways. Recruited by viralpathogens, PDZ proteins are highly conserved and provide an ideal platformfor identification of diagnostic markers for cancers, infectious diseasesand other complex diseases. The company capitalizes on its unique mix ofexpertise, intellectual property, and novel PDZ drug discovery platform toaccelerate discovery and development programs for both therapeutics anddiagnostics. Arbor Vita's current programs address major health areasincluding complex diseases such as cervical cancer and stroke, as well asinfectious diseases such as influenza.
Media Contact:Debra Bannister530 676-8001Email Contact
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