About Antisense Therapeutics

Antisense Therapeutics Limited engages in the creation, development, and commercialization of antisense pharmaceuticals. The company has a worldwide license agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries (Teva), a pharmaceutical company, to develop and commercialize ATL1102 aerosol drug for asthma. Products ATL1101 for prostate cancer: ATL1101 is an antisense inhibitor of insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-Ir) which has shown potent activity in laboratory studies, including in human cancer cells. IGF-Ir is of a family of cell signaling molecules that are referred to as ‘anti-apoptotic’. These molecules prolong cell survival by inhibiting programmed cell death (apoptosis). Inhibition of cell survival molecules like IGF-Ir renders tumour cells susceptible to cell death with cytotoxic (cell death inducing) drugs. ATL1102/TV1102 for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): ATL/TV1102 is a second generation antisense inhibitor of CD49d, a subunit of VLA-4 (Very Late Antigen-4). VLA-4 is a clinically validated target in the treatment of MS. ATL1102 for Asthma: ATL1102 for Asthma targets the VLA-4 molecule. The delivery of an antisense drug against VLA-4 through inhalation to the lung significantly suppressed asthma. In addition, the company has licensed ATL1102 to Teva, which provides an option for Teva to in-license the ATL1102 aerosol drug for asthma. ATL1103: ATL1103, an antisense drug designed to block growth hormone receptor expression thereby reducing levels of the hormone insulin-like growth factor-I (IGFI) in the blood and is a treatment for diseases associated with growth hormone action. These diseases include acromegaly (an abnormal growth disorder of organs, face, hands, and feet) and diabetic retinopathy. The latter disorder is a common disease of the eye and a major cause of blindness. Strategic Partnership The company has a strategic partnership with Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The collaboration with Isis provides the company with access to Isis’ antisense intellectual property, drug discovery technology, development know-how, and drug manufacturing capabilities to allow it to develop and commercialize its pipeline of antisense drugs.