New Purdue Research Park-based firm helps surgeons see cancer cells
July 10, 2012
On Target Laboratories LLC is developing probes to illuminate cancer
cells, which may help surgeons see more of them during surgery. On
Target Laboratories has become a tenant of the Purdue Research Park of
West Lafayette. (On Target Laboratories photo) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Surgeons may benefit from technology developed to target cancer cells one-thousandth of a millimeter in size and make them easier to see during surgery.
On Target Laboratories LLC is developing probes to illuminate cancer
cells. The technology is licensed from Endocyte Inc., and was discovered
by Philip S. Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University.
On Target Laboratories is
based in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette. Tom Hurvis is
chairman of the board, Marty Low is CEO, Philip Low is CSO and Tim Biro
is COO.
"For our first probe, EC-17, we attach a dye to folate,
which is a water-soluble vitamin," Marty Low said. "Folate binds to the
receptors on the surface of the cancer cell and then enters the cell
with the fluorescent dye through a process called endocytosis. It will
not enter healthy cells, which do not have folate receptors."
Low said the probes facilitate work done by surgeons by helping them see more cancer cells.
"The
targeted dye will literally act as a lighted road map so surgeons can
identify smaller lesions, margins and lymph nodes that are cancerous,"
he said. "We believe that if surgeons can see more, they will be able to
remove more and the outcome for patients will be better. It also may
reduce costs by potentially saving time in the operating room, recovery
time and the need for additional procedures."
EC-17 will
initially be used to help ovarian cancer patients, but surgeons at the
University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University are conducting studies
to determine the potential use of EC-17 in lung and renal cancer
patients. On Target Laboratories is in the process of developing other
probes for additional cancers including colon, breast, endometrial and
prostate. Because different cancer cells have different receptors, there
will be different targeting drugs and dyes to create the probes. EC-17
will enter Phase II clinical trials in late summer 2012.
Marty Low explained how On Target Laboratories benefits by being a tenant in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette.
"The
proximity to Purdue University and the core technology is a huge
benefit," he said. "The Purdue Research Foundation provides services
that will help us grow, and the park is an environment where innovative
people come together."
About On Target Laboratories LLC
On Target Laboratories
is in the business of discovering, developing and commercializing small
molecules that, when conjugated with fluorescent dyes, target and
illuminate specific cancerous cells. These conjugates can be used by
doctors and surgeons worldwide to better diagnose and surgically remove a
wide range of diseases from cancer to inflammation-related diseases. On
Target and its partners will succeed by helping doctors dramatically
change the outcome for their patients.
About Purdue Research Park
The Purdue Research Park
has the largest university-affiliated business incubation program in
the country. The park's four Indiana sites are in West Lafayette,
Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany. The nearly 200 companies
located in the park network employ about 4,000 people.
Purdue Research Park contact:
Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
Source:
Marty Low, 484-744-1500, mlow@ontargetlabs.com