3.3M-euro grant for ThromboGenics to develop anti-VPAC1

Leuven, Belgium-based ThromboGenics NV, a biotechnology company focused  on innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer,  has been awarded a grant of up to 3.2 million euros ($4.1 million) for  the continued development of its anti-vasoactive intestinal  peptide/pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide receptor (VPAC1)  antibody for the treatment of thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).  This represents an important source of funding to support the  development of this novel product, which is expected to begin clinical  trials in 2011, the company says.

The grant has come from the Institute for the promotion of Innovation by  Science and Technology in Flanders, the IWT, and is based on the  successful completion of a series of development milestones over the  next three years. IWT is a public institution that was created by the  Flemish government to provide R&D and innovation support to projects  based in Flanders.

Research by ThromboGenics in conjunction with the University of Leuven  has shown that the inhibition of VPAC1-mediated signalling could  stimulate the production of platelets. The VPAC1 receptor is present at  the surface of bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes, which, when  mature, produce platelets. Recent findings published in the journal for  the American Society of Hematology, Blood, has indicated that the  inhibition of VPAC1 promotes megakaryocyte maturation and therefore  could constitute a novel strategy to increase a patient's platelet count  and functionality after chemotherapy treatment.