Solbec hires Bioscience to grow anti-cancer ingredient

Western Australian horticulture company Bioscience has been commissioned by Solbec Pharmaceuticals to set up and run Solbec's horticultural production facility, used to produce its lead anti-cancer compound SBP002 (BEC-2S) from Solanum linnaeanum, or devil's apple.

"Because the compounds for our lead compound are not available, we had to go back to the plant source and extract it for use," explained Solbec MD Stephen Carter.

He noted that the compound was extremely difficult to synthesise chemically, but by contrast was abundant in the plant and relatively easy to purify, with minimal capital outlay required.

The 7 hectare plantation will be located at Baldivis, about 50km from Perth, and will eventually be planted with about 30,000 plants, said Carter. About 10,000 plants are expected to be put in the ground initially.

Carter said that by first quarter of next year, the company should be able to harvest about 150kg of fruit per week, which would be used to produce about 700g of the drug. The plant fruits year-round and has a 10-15 year life, he said, noting that it was a hardy and relatively pest-resistant plant.

"It's a good plant from a horticultural point of view," he said.

Bioscience was chosen after Solbec reviewed various companies for a suitable candidate. Carter said that the company had excellent facilities and staff and had had a lot of experience with growing similar species. The company was also able to satisfy requirements for growing plants for pharmaceutical use.

Solbec is planning to move into Phase I clinical trials with SBP002 after completing pre-clinical animal studies.