Extraordinary breakthrough in fight against cancer virus
Published: May 17, 2006
A West Michigan company has discovered a new drug that may be able to cure the virus that causes cervical cancer.
NanoVir Inc., a Kalamazoo-based biotechnology firm, has identified new chemical compounds that target the human papillomavirus.
Biologist and co-founder Nanovir, Dr. Chris Fisher, announced the research results at the recent International Conference for Antiviral Research in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“This is an extraordinary first step,” says Dr. Fisher.
So far, the compounds have only been tested on human cells in a lab. Dr. Fisher says in those tests, compounds reduced the viral DNA by more than 90%.
The antiviral treatments target HPV 16, the primary cause of a positive pap smear and the strain that causes over half of all cervical cancer deaths.
“It’s hard to imagine better results,” says Dr. Fisher.
Dr. Chris Fisher formed NanoVir in 2003 with fellow former Pfizer employee Dr. James Bashkin.
Dr. Fisher works in laboratory space at the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center at Western Michigan University’s Business Technology and Research Park. Dr. Bashkin works from the University of Missouri in St. Louis.
Recent advances in preventing cervical cancer have focussed on vaccines, instead of antiviral treatments. Pharmaceutical company Merck & Co is awaiting FDA approval, before marketing their new HPV vaccine Gardasil.
While vaccines may reduce the prevalence of HPV, Dr. Fisher says the sexually-transmitted virus will remain a significant public problem. An estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.
“We strongly believe that you can’t just forget about those people that are already infected, and that you need to offer them some hope,” says Dr. Fisher.
NanoVir is currently seeking grant money to begin testing their new drug on animals. That phase may begin in 2007.
Based on those results, the drug could then move to human clinical trials within three years.
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