Protein developed for cancer therapy

Innovation Award: Protein developed for cancer therapy

23/06/2011

For their research successes in the field of cancer therapy, the Scil Proteins GmbH in Halle was awarded the IQ Innovation Award 2011 by the Central German Economic Initiative. Experts at the biotech company have succeeded in developing a protein that, in the context of cancer therapy, enables exact localization of tumors as well as more efficient use of existing chemotherapy agents. Based on the novel treatment method, the side effects of cancer therapy can be significantly reduced in the future, and the prospects for healing success increase considerably, the jury explained the award.

With the help of the protein developed by the Scil Proteins GmbH, the diagnosis and therapy of tumors will be significantly improved, said Jörn-Heinrich Tobaben, Managing Director of the Central German Economic Initiative on Tuesday at the award ceremony. The award with the IQ Innovation Award 2011 honors the innovative performance of the company, which could help to initiate a new stage in the treatment of cancer worldwide, said Tobaben weiter. The biotechnology company has succeeded in combining the advantages of chemotherapy with so-called antibody therapy in the newly developed protein Affilin.

Economic Initiative Central Germany recognizes innovation performance
The development of the novel protein molecule Affilin is one of the greatest successes of the biotechnology company Scil Proteins. Currently, the company is about to undergo clinical trials and has already registered 150 patents for the innovative protein molecule, said the managing director of Scil Proteins GmbH. Ulrike Fiedler. The research of Scil Proteins GmbH is supported by the state of Saxony-Anhalt via the Investitionsbank Sachsen-Anhalt as well as by the international investor Bionet Ventures. Now also the economic initiative Central Germany has on Tuesday the achievements of the team around the managing director Dr. Ing. Ulrike Fiedler honored with the IQ Innovation Award 2011. According to Scil Proteins, the first pharmaceutical companies are already prepared to develop appropriate drugs with the help of the new protein after completion of the research work.

Improvement of cancer therapy by bacterially produced protein
With the help of bacteria, Scil Proteins researchers have succeeded in producing the novel protein molecule Affilin, which is so modified in its surface structure that the new molecules dock directly to the cancer cells. In this way, tumors can be located much better than before. In addition, because Affilin is able to act as a carrier for other drugs, chemotherapy drugs, for example, can be delivered directly to the cancerous cells and deliver their full potential, according to the Scil Proteins CEO. Since the Affilin molecules are much smaller compared to the antibodies of previous cancer therapies, they can penetrate significantly deeper into tumors and thus ensure an effective fight against cancer cells, explain the experts of Scil Proteins further benefits of their innovation. In addition, healthy cells in the vicinity of the cancerous tumor would be spared in this way, which could significantly reduce the risk of side effects. Ulrike Fiedler and expressed the hope that already „In a few years the first drugs will be on the market“ could. (Fp)

Also read:
Camouflaged nanoparticles against cancer
Vaccine against prostate cancer
Breast cancer screening can save breast

Picture: Rolf van Melis