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Select a featured project from the list below to view more details:
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One of Bionature's long standing research interests is the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These disorders are characterized by chronic and progressive loss of neurons in discrete areas of the brain or the peripheral nerves, causing debilitating symptoms such as dementia, loss of memory, loss of sensory or motor capability, decreased overall quality of life and well-being, disability, and eventually, premature death.
For most neurodegenerative diseases, currently there is little or no treatment; at best, treatments are symptomatic in nature and do not prevent or slow the progression of disease. Bionature is developing novel compounds with strong neuroprotective properties that could potentially be used in treating and / or preventing, the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Use of Steroid-Protein conjugates in the selective identification and elimination of tumor cells derived from solid cancers. |
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This project involves the use of steroid-protein conjugates that exhibit potent cytotoxic actions in prostate cancer cells, as a new primary of adjuvant chemotherapy for solid cancers and hematological malignancies. The leading molecule, a testosterone-albumin conjugate (MED-C100), is currently in preclinical development. Greek and international patent applications have already been submitted (GR1004274, PCT/IB03/02785).
Bionature has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the Greek biotechnology Company, Medexis S.A. (www.medexis-biotech.com). Medexis belongs to the Gerolymatos Group of Companies (P.N.G.), one of the largest Greek pharmaceutical enterprises with a successful record in the development, production and distribution of health care products. P.N.G. has a large number of corporate marketing alliances with international companies (including GlaxoSmithKline) and plays a major role in the health & beauty business in Greece and the Balkan area.
Phase I clinical trials are expected to start by the end of 2007.
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Determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity |
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Bionature scientists developed a new automated method for the determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Corrected Total Antioxidant Capacity (corrTAC) in fluids. The method utilises a crocin reagent for the determination of TAC in fluids and it is especially advantageous for the use in clinical practice, as it produces stable results during at least three freeze-thawing cycles, and is more sensitive compared to other TAC assays. TAC may be useful in a number of pathological situations (renal failure, anticancer treatment, GI diseases, atherosclerosis, etc) as well as in determining the nutritional status of an individual. Greek and international patents have been granted (GR-2003-01-00034, WO2004068140).
The method has been developed into a commercial diagnostic kit by Medicon Hellas S.A. (www.mediconhellas.com) and it is currently being introduced to hospitals. Medicon Hellas S.A. specializes in the development, production, import and export of diagnostic products.
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Bionature, in collaboration with Medicon Hellas S.A., developed a low cost and easy to use molecular diagnostics kit for characterising the pharmacogenomic profile of patients. The kit genotypes the various alleles of drug metabolizing enzymes, targeting the most important drug metabolizing enzymes (TPMT, CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and DPD), which metabolize almost 90% of all drugs used in therapeutics.
Pharmacogenomic testing is used for genotype and allele determination through point mutations of the genes corresponding to metabolizing enzymes as well as the cellular receptors and drug transporters. The molecular diagnostic techniques that are being developed aim at tracking of known point mutations (single point) and small insertions or deletions of the mentioned genes. The patients' DNA sample is reinforced at first with PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) with the help of allele-specific oligonucleotide primers.
The kit is in the process of finalization and it is scheduled for market entry in the first half of 2007.
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Corticotropin Releasing Hormone in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. |
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The invention describes the treatment of inflammatory diseases via the pharmacological manipulation of the endogenous Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone (“CRH”) and Urocortin (“UCN”) systems, resulting in the regulation of the Monocyte/ Macrophage function. The therapeutic regiments patented include the use of synthetic CRH-R1 receptor antagonists and synthetic CRH-R2 receptor agonists aiming in modifying the response of monocyte/ macrophage monocyte/ macrophage cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and cytokine production and, thus, control of the magnitude of the inflammatory response, acting through the CRH-R1 receptors while UCN attenuates it acting through the CRH-R2 receptors. These effects of CRH and UCN are the result of a direct action of these peptides on monocyte/ macrophage cells which express both the CRH-R1 and the CRH-R2 receptors on the surface.
The invention is directed towards pharmacological intervention for the amelioration or full treatment of inflammatory diseases using pharmacological agents affecting the CRH-UCH system which controls monocyte / macrophage cell function, a key player in initiating and maintaining the inflammatory response via production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as is the interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The invention also provides methods for the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of natural and synthetic CRH system modulators for the control of the monocyte / macrophage function. Modulation of monocyte / macrophage mediated inflammatory response is relevant to all acute and chronic human inflammatory diseases.
The Greek patent has been granted (GR1004664) and an international application has been filed (PCT/IBO3/05429).
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Use of mastic derived from the resin of the plant pistachia lentiscus var. as anti-iflammatory and cytotoxic/ cytostatic agent. |
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Mastic Gum comes from the resin that seeps like teardrops from the bark of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). It is an exclusively Greek product, because although the mastic tree grows in many places, it only sheds its tears, thus producing its valuable crystals, in the Aegean island of Chios. The product in raw form is available in different grades, 1 to 5, and in different sizes, large tears and small tears. The grades define the purity of the product. Grade 1 is the purest mastic suitable for humans to eat; grades 3 to 5 are suitable for all other uses and may contain different tear sizes and small tree remains.
Several studies have already been published on mastic gum with regard to its positive effects on the gastrointestinal environment, attracting the interest of the scientific and medical community. In other studies, mastic gum provided symptomatic relief of ulcers, reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage caused by anti-ulcer drugs and aspirin, and possessed antacid and cytoprotective qualities.
In 2005, Bionature submitted a patent application in Greece. The patent describes a novel anti-inflammatory activity in mastic oil and its derivatives, which could have both dermatological and oral applications. Initial experiments have shown the efficacy of these preparations in a number of cell systems.
The patent has been licensed to Yasoo Health Inc. for further research and development. Yasoo Health is a nutraceutical company which seeks to develop proprietary, disease-specific products that will aid in the effective management of chronic diseases (www.yasoo.com).
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