Proteome 'scavenger compounds' net US$20 government grant

A US$20 million grant to develop Proteome Systems' (ASX:PXL) proprietary therapeutic compounds for the treatment of radiation exposure caused by terrorist attacks or industry accidents has been awarded to a consortium comprising Proteome Systems, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit, and the University of Toronto.

"This is a group of the best scientists working together to develop our compound into a therapy," said Proteome Systems CEO Stephen Porges. "This is an extremely important an issue for governments around the world -- there is currently no therapy for radiation damage."

A consortium of 20 scientists will work together to develop therapies to treat victims of radiological terrorism or radiation accidents, with particular focus on protecting the lung, kidney, gut, and brain, at the Centre for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The funding proposal was organised by director of radiation biology at MCW, Prof John Moulder, whose research has been devoted to developing a method for preventing and treating radiation injuries.

Proteome Systems will provide its novel synthetic catalytic scavengers (SCS) as a starting point and will work with the other members of the consortium to develop these compounds for clinical application.

Proteome Systems' scavenger drugs are small molecule compounds that show potential across a spectrum of therapeutic applications in the neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and inflammatory areas -- these compounds have been shown to prevent various forms of radiation-induced tissue damage.

This research will enable Proteome Systems to further develop a medical product designed to protect not only victims of exposure to a 'dirty bomb' or similar radioactive device, but also first responders who would need to go into attack areas.

"We are also examining the opportunity for moving into the clinic for other non-military applications of these injuries such as the debilitating effects caused by radiation treatment for cancer," said Porges.

The Centre for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation at the Medical College of Wisconsin is part of a recently launched initiative from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop new medical products to protect against, mitigate the effects of, and treat the short- and long-term consequences of radiation exposure due to terrorist attack.