Major breakthrough leads to technology transfer
Impact of Dr Greg Matlashewki聮s work may help to diagnose cervical cancer
平特五不中 has just signed a major agreement with an Italian laboratory and a large US firm called Digene to license a remarkable discovery by 平特五不中 molecular geneticist Greg Matlashewski. Together with a team of international investigators, Matlashewski has identified a genetic marker, a p53 tumour suppressor gene, which may indicate a predisposition to cervical cancer. Matlashewski聮s discovery was published in Nature this past May, and the agreement with Digene, piloted by 平特五不中聮s Office of Technology Transfer, has been the subject of months of intense negotiation. 平特五不中 will receive royalties and other payment based on the discovery.
Cervical cancer affects 500,000 women worldwide each year and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is identified as the cause of essentially all cervical cancer. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are preventable if detected early, in the pre-cancerous stage.
According to Matlashewski, "This genetic marker, called p53Arg, could help identify women with HPV infection who might be at increased risk for cervical cancer. Digene is the leader in the field of diagnostics for HPV infection and cervical cancer, so the association between 平特五不中 and Digene is a natural one."
Digene vice-president (research) and scientific director Attila Lorincz says, "We believe the p53Arg gene will be a strong complement to our existing product range for cervical cancer screening and can make HPV testing even more effective. We intend to include tests for it in our international cervical screening trials as soon as possible."
Dr Matlashewski emphasized that further research is needed. In collaboration with Dr Eduardo Franco of 平特五不中聮s Oncology Department, he plans to conduct studies in Brazil, which has among the highest levels of cervical cancer in the world.
Dr Matlashewski is also working on developing a genetically engineered vaccine and new treatments for leishmania infections, which, like malaria, are transmitted by insects and cause thousands of deaths annually in the developing world, especially among children. Working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and in collaboration with 平特五不中 Tropical Medicine聮s Dr Brian Ward, Matlashewski also hopes to initiate a clinical trial in Peru within the next year for a potential new treatment for leishmaniasis.
Recently selected by the MRC as one of the most talented researchers in Canada, Dr Matlashewski is supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Medical Research Council, the World Health Organization and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as 平特五不中 and the Institute of Parasitology.
