Uni strikes research deal which could save the lives of millions of women

The University of Manchester, through its Innovation Company (UMI3), has signed a licensing and research agreement with New Zealand-based Douglas Pharmaceuticals that could save the lives of millions of women around the world suffering from early stage cervical cancer. 

The deal initially sees Douglas sponsor research at the university to develop the cervical cancer treatment further.

Then Douglas will manufacture the therapy and drive further development, clinical trials and commercialization on an international basis, focusing initially on a multi-centre phase two clinical trial in the UK.

Douglas is a family-owned company headquartered in Auckland which is committed to improving health outcomes through price containment and accessibility to complex generic medicines developed in-house for international markets.

It ways its burgeoning interest in drug repurposing is evidenced in the current collaboration with The University of Manchester.
 
Douglas managing director Jeff Douglas said: “We are delighted in the collaboration with The University of Manchester, in this promising treatment of early stage cervical cancer.

“Douglas is committed to building strong relationships in medical research for global markets with a particular emphasis on medicine repurposing.”

The deal is based on the work of husband and wife team Drs Ian and Lynne Hampson – both molecular virologists at the university – who discovered that a drug, commonly used to treat HIV, might prevent early stage cervical cancer.

The researchers found that the drug was active against strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer.

With the help of former PhD student, Dr Innocent Orora Maranga, they carried out a successful phase 1 clinical trial in Kenya using an oral form of the drug as a pessary.

Ian said: “The HIV drug is applied directly to the cervix to catch cervical cancer in its early stages. This should reduce the need for invasive and costly surgical procedures currently used in the wealthier nations.

“When we treated Kenyan women suffering from early stage cervical cancer, we found that it wiped out pre-cancerous cells in 65 per cent, and reduced the severity of disease in 15% of the trial participants with virtually no side effects.”

Lynne added: “This new non-invasive treatment has the potential to provide a revolutionary self-help therapy for women with pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.

“For poorer countries that lack surgical facilities and where the disease is most common, it could be a massive game changer.”

Professor Ian Greer, vice president and dean of the faculty of biology, medicine and health at the university said the deal “illustrates our commitment to the university’s and the Northern Health Science Alliance role in tackling global health problems”.

Dr Rich Ferrie, director of operations at the University’s technology transfer division, UMIP, said: “I am delighted that we have partnered with Douglas Pharmaceuticals to drive the clinical development of this exciting cervical cancer therapy, which offers hope for millions of women globally who are at risk of cervical cancer.”