Ubiquitin is a chain of amino acids that marks
proteins destined for destruction inside the cell.
Ubiquitin serves as a regulator of cellular
activity, and is responsible for detecting up to
90% of the mishaps in cellular function.
They also found a link between ubiquitin and
diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and
degenerative conditions of the nervous system,
such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Teva is now coming out with a proprietary
treatment for Parkinson's: Rasagiline, which is
being marketed in Europe under the brand name
Azilect. But the ubiquitin approach marks a
totally new direction.
With the backing of millions of dollars from
Teva, Proteologics hopes to identify ubiquitin
ligases, which are enzymes that identify target
proteins designated for dissolution, that are
relevant to cancers. The second stage of the
research, according to company statements, would
be to develop inhibitors to the ligases.
Proteologics is also working on developing a
treatment for AIDS based on ubiquitin.
Teva would retain the option to continue drug
development and commercialization itself, in
exchange for royalties to Proteologics,
contingent on milestones.
Proteologics has no revenues and is at least
three years from clinical trials.
Teva Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:TEVA) is backing
Nobel prize winners Avram Hershko and Aaron
Ciechanover. It has entered a strategic agreement
with a biotechnology company Proteologics to
examine the feasibility of developing cancer
treatments based on their discoveries related to
ubiquitin. Ciechanover and Hershko are on
Proteologics' advisory board and they were the
first to describe these phenomena.