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UQ spin-off company to develop precision painkillers to treat debilitating diseases
Precise painkillers that are more precise and less harmful to the liver are to be developed by a University of Queensland spin-off company -; potentially changing the lives of millions of people. Professor Trent Munro, from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), is the scientific co-founder of Cassowary Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd which is developing a new range of targeted medicines. Professor Munro said the drugs would help treat debilitating and chronic pain conditions associated with cancer, sciatica, post-herpetic neuralgia (a painful condition that can follow shingles), peripheral nerve injury and osteoarthritis. This type of targeted therapy reduces...
UQ spin-off company to develop precision painkillers to treat debilitating diseases
Precise painkillers that are more precise and less harmful to the liver are to be developed by a University of Queensland spin-off company -; potentially changing the lives of millions of people.
Professor Trent Munro, from theThe Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) is the scientific co-founder of CassowaryPharmaceuticals Pty Ltdwhich is developing a new range of targeted drugs.
Professor Munro said the drugs would help treat debilitating and chronic pain conditions associated with itcancer, sciatica,postherpetic neuralgia (a painful condition that can follow shingles), peripheral nerve injury and osteoarthritis.
This type of targeted therapy reduces the potential side effects and safety issues associated with current pain treatments and also means fewer doses are required.Developing drugs with these properties could transform the lives of millions of people suffering from chronic neuropathic pain.”
Professor Trent Munro,Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Professor Munro said neuropathic pain affects up to 10 per cent of the adult population and current treatments often cause problems.
“Many existing treatments are ineffective in large numbers of patients and pose a significant risk of side effects, including addiction,” he said.
Cassowary Pharma's drug candidate targets a molecule thought to be important in the human body's perception of pain.
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“By building on the groundbreaking discoveries ofEmeritus Professor Maree Smith, and using the critical tools developed in UQ’s laboratoryProfessor Greg Monteith, we can make a drug that is very precise,avoids the risk of liver toxicity and reduces the overall drug burden,” said Professor Munro.
After receiving funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)'s $40 million national CUREator program, Cassowary Pharma will recruit clinical trial candidates over the next 18 months as it ramps up its market entry efforts.
Professor Munro said shaping the goals of Cassowary Pharma was a collaborative effort involvedDr. Lucia Zacchi from theSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and AIBNsDr. Martina Jones.
It was one of four UQ start-ups to receive funding earlier this year, each working to find new treatments for a variety of difficult-to-treat conditions.
UQ commercialization companyUniQuest CEO Dr. Dean Moss congratulated Cassowary Pharma and said the funding recognized the leading role UQ plays in technology transfer and commercialization.
“I am always pleased to recognize how innovative research excellence is put into practice by UQ’s institutes, faculties and schools,” said Dr. Moss.
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