29th November 2000
Cancer Research Ventures and the European Institute of Oncology explore the opportunities for the discovery of the first Mammalian ‘ageing’ gene
Knockout mice for a gene identified by a group led by Dr Pier Guiseppe Pelicci at the European Institute of Oncology have shown an extension in their natural life span without any identifiable physiological changes. This is the first time a mammalian gene has been shown to have such a direct affect on the life span of a mammal.
The discovery was disclosed in a report in Nature (18th November 1999) and has been followed up by the international press (The Times/The Telegraph/The Guardian/The New York Times - (November 1999).
Dr Pelicci continues to characterise the function of this important gene which has been termed p66shc. The function of the gene appears to be linked with the production of Reactive Oxygen Species and their cumulative damaging effects on the cell. The group has further identified the mechanism for activation of the gene.
Cancer Research Ventures Limited (CRV), a technology transfer company which was formed as a spin out company from Cancer Research Campaign Technology Ltd, has been working with Dr Pelicci’s department in Milan for some time as its agent for intellectual property management and point of contact for commercial partners. This is just one of several key research areas in which CRV has been acting as a consultant for the department. A patent covering the p66shc gene has been applied for. CRV is now seeking commercial partners to help the group develop this discovery for use in age related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Werner’s syndrome and to combat the causes of premature tissue death.
Further Details Available:
Cancer Research Ventures Limited is the new subsidiary of Cancer Research Campaign Technology Limited. Whilst CRCT has been effectively commercialising the developments for CRC laboratories in the UK since 1987, CRV is now in a position to duplicate this model to the benefit of other Cancer Research organisations both in the UK and abroad. CRV has had a technology transfer agreement with the European Institute of Oncology in Milan since January of this year. The institute is one of Italy’s most prestigious research centres and one of only a handful of institutes with clinical development capabilities in cancer.
Any party requiring further information relating the commercial potential or development of this work should contact:
Simon Youlton (+44(0)20 73175218)
Email: syoulton@cancertechnology.com
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