Advanced Cancer Therapeutics Secures Exclusive License to Second Anti-Cancer Therapeutic from the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT), a for-profit private company dedicated to bringing new anti-cancer therapies to market, today announced that it has signed an exclusive license to develop and market 4-IPP and its related compounds, discovered by scientists at the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center (Brown Cancer Center).

“We are very excited to license this small molecule compound, 4-IPP, and its related compounds that could have utility in both oncology and various autoimmune diseases.”

Brown Cancer Center researchers Dr. Robert Mitchell and Dr. John Trent discovered that 4-IPP, a novel small molecule compound, exhibits anti-tumor activity by blocking tumor-specific angiogenesis, and thus far has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in laboratory studies. As a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), this chemokine promotes multiple pro-angiogenic growth factors (VEGF and IL-8) and contributes to tumor cell division, metastases and tumor vascularization (i.e., angiogenesis). The University of Louisville researchers have shown in the laboratory that 4-IPP could serve as front-line therapy against bulk tumors and reduce the risk of recurrence of primary tumors or eventual metastasis.

In addition, while initially targeted for development in oncology, 4-IPP has subsequently been evaluated for its potential to address various unmet medical needs in autoimmune related diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis.

“Unlike most new biotechnology companies, ACT is unique in that we have a rich portfolio of potential breakthrough anti-cancer products from which to select through our innovative business arrangement with the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center,” said Randall Riggs, President & CEO of ACT. “We are very excited to license this small molecule compound, 4-IPP, and its related compounds that could have utility in both oncology and various autoimmune diseases.”

About Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT):

ACT is a for-profit private company dedicated to advancing novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of cancer. ACT has successfully established a unique and innovative business model with the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center (Brown Cancer Center) whereby ACT is able to obtain exclusive worldwide licenses to novel cancer therapeutics discovered at Brown Cancer Center under preset business terms. ACT then fast-tracks these discoveries, including the selection process for partnership, commercialization and manufacture, to the pharmaceutical industry, and ultimately to the patients who need them. Led by Dr. Don Miller, the Brown Cancer Center employs over fifty leading scientists focused on the discovery and advancement of breakthrough cancer therapeutics for patients suffering from cancer. For more information, please visit www.advancedcancertherapeutics.com.

About James Graham Brown Cancer Center

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center is a key component of the University of Louisville's Health Sciences Center and UofL Health Care. As the region's leading academic, research, and teaching medical center, our patients benefit from the latest medical advances, often long before they become available in non-teaching settings. The Brown Cancer Center is affiliated with the Kentucky Cancer Program and the National Cancer Institute. It is the only cancer center in the region to use a unified approach to cancer care, with multidisciplinary teams of physicians working together to guide patients through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. For more information, visit our website www.browncancercenter.org.