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Malignant glioma is one of the most aggressive types of brain tumours. Patients with malignant gliomas have a dismal prognosis with a median survival of only 1 year and "long-term survivors" (i.e. those surviving ≥ 3 years) are rare.
There are several barriers to the effective treatment of malignant glioma. They are difficult to remove surgically as they are highly invasive, moving into the surrounding normal brain. In addition, surgery is further made difficult because of the presence of the brain tumour initiating cells (also known as cancer stem cells) that are not detectable nor treatable with current technology.
ACT intends to develop the following products:
- Brain tumour diagnosis and molecular classification - Arch intends to develop peptides that bind specific tumour types to create non-invasive tests that diagnose and molecularly classify brain cancers. This technology may lead to a 'personalized medicine' approach for each patient with a brain tumour.
- Novel treatment for Brain tumours - Arch scientists intend to use peptides to locate cancer cells that are not detectable with current diagnostic imaging technology. If successful, this technology may lead to improvements in the surgical management of brain tumours. A long term objective is to adapt peptides as specific targeting molecules that deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to the tumour cells and preventing the collateral damage to normal tissue.
Product development is focused on 3 proprietary lead molecules: ACT-0932, ACT-0971 and ACT-0981. |
