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.
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