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Synthonics, Inc News...
December 21, 2011 Blacksburg, VA – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced today that Synthonics was awarded a SBIR Matching Grant from the Commonwealth Research and Commercialization Fund (CRCF). The awards totaling $3.6 million were made to 22 organizations from academia, the research community, and industry in the Commonwealth for the purpose of funding targeted areas of research with commercial promise aligned with the Commonwealth Research and Technology Strategic Roadmap. This CRCF grant will be used to further advance Synthonic's novel MCP (metal coordinated pharmaceutical ) chemistry for its metallo-levodopa compound to treat Parkinson’s Disease.
November 9, 2010
Synthonics, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded over $667,000 in grants through the U.S. government's Qualifying
Therapeutic Discovery Project, which provides tax credits and grants to projects that show significant potential to produce
new therapies, reduce long-term health care costs, or significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within the next 30 years. Synthonics was awarded the full amount it requested for each of its applications. The subject matter of those applications
demonstrates the flexibility and broad applicability of Synthonics' chemistry and include:
- Development of an extended release metallo-levodopa complex for the treatment of motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
- Development of an injectable metallo-SAHA complex (currently administered in pill form) for the treatment of certain cancers
- Development of an injectable metallo-zanamivir complex (currently administered as an inhalable) for the treatment of flu viruses and
- Development of an injectable metallo-topiramate (currently administered in pill form) for treatment of seizures in neonates.
Commenting on today's news, Dr. Tom Piccariello, President and Chief Science Officer of Synthonics, stated that "We are very
pleased that the U.S. government, relying on the National Institutes of Health peer review process, has deemed our work worthy
of financial support. The receipt of this grant award bolsters our cash reserves as we continue to develop pipeline product candidates." Ken Slepicka., Chief Executive Officer, added that "These grants provide significant, non-dilutive funding for our development
programs and are a testament to the commercial potential of our products and chemistry. When coupled with the recent allowance
of our initial patent claims, these grants position us well for growth." The Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project, established under section 48D of the Internal Revenue Code, is a $1 billion fund,
available to firms with no more than 250 employees. The credit or grant covers up to 50 percent of the cost of qualifying biomedical research.
October 4, 2010
U.S. Patent 7,799,937 for Metal Coordinated Compound, Zinc-T3 (Triiodothyronine)
Blacksburg, VA -- Synthonics, Inc. announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,799,937 B2, the first patent in Synthonics' portfolio. This composition of matter patent, which covers a complex of zinc with triiodothyronine (T3), establishes the patentability of novel molecules created by
chelating a metal to a known drug. Synthonics has demonstrated that it can significantly improve a drug's absorption and delivery by chelating it to a metal,
which should provide significant clinical benefits. "We are pleased to begin to build our intellectual property portfolio and expect additional patent grants on compounds derived from our Metal Coordinated
Pharmaceutical (MCP) Platform," stated Kenneth Slepicka, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. "This patent demonstrates our ability to obtain intellectual
property protection for these novel compositions of matter and further validates the value of our metal coordination platform approach. We feel that this
patent will be the first of many patents covering a wide array of applications and disease states.." About Synthonics
Synthonics is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals incorporating its proprietary metal coordination chemistry. Synthonics uses that chemistry to create novel therapeutic compounds by covalently binding metals to known pharmaceutical agents to create new products ("metal coordinated pharmaceuticals" or "MCPs") that deliver greater therapeutic benefits than do their predecessors.
July 1, 2010 Study to Pave Way for Future Clinical Trials in Parkinson's
Blacksburg, VA. - Synthonics, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company focused on improving medical care through the development of
novel metallo-pharmaceuticals, today announced that The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has agreed to fund its study of
"Metal Complexation with Levodopa to Improve Continuous Dopaminergic Stimulation." Synthonics believes that its metallo-levodopa compound can
significantly advance the treatment of motor dysfunction associated with Parkinson's disease. Synthonics uses its proprietary metal coordination
chemistry to control and extend the release of levodopa into the blood. Maintenance of consistent levels of levodopa in the blood is expected to
materially reduce the incidence of abnormal involuntary movements or dyskinesia as well as "off" periods of muscle rigidity in Parkinson's patients.
"We are excited to advance research on our novel metal coordination chemistry, specifically on our metallo-levodopa compound, and to work
alongside the Michael J. Fox Foundation in its efforts to develop better treatments for this devastating disease" said Synthonics CEO Kenneth J. Slepicka.
About Synthonics, Inc.
Synthonics, Inc. is a privately-held biotechnology company developing metal coordinated pharmaceuticals ("MCP's"). Synthonics uses its
proprietary metal coordination chemistry to enhance drugs by "dialing-in" their desired pharmacokinetics. In addition to its metallo-levodopa
compound for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the company has discovered and is developing MCP's to treat unmet medical needs in areas
such as cancer, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, congestive heart failure and influenza. Synthonics, Inc
About the Michael J. Fox Foundation
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the development of better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for Parkinson's disease
through an aggressively funded research agenda. MJFF has funded nearly $187 million in research to date. MichaelJFox.org
March 24, 2010
October 27, 2009
October 27, 2009
September 15, 2009
The National Institute of Health and National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke has awarded Synthonics a grant for its application entitle "Levodopa
Pharmacokinetic Optimization by Metal Coordination." Synthonics will use the funds
from the grant to formulate a continuous release version of the prodrug levodopa
with the goal of optimizing its therapeutic effect. June 23, 2009
On June 23, 2009 Synthonics was accepted into Eli Lilly's competitive
PD2 (Phenotypic Drug Discovery) program. Lilly's PD2 program is a collaborative
research program that will accept compounds from institutions and provide the
necessary testing to fully evaluate the compound as a potential drug candidate.
Once testing is completed, Lilly evaluates the data and determines whether to
initiate discussions on a possible collaboration. Synthonics has several metal
coordinated pharmaceuticals ready for testing by Lilly that are within Lilly's
drug development focus.
A description of Lilly's PD2 program:
Phenotypic drug discovery provides an alternative approach that begins by
querying more complex cellular systems instead of specific targets. The possible
advantage resides in the fact that a relevant biological context is interrogated
without predisposed bias toward mechanism(s). Thus an opportunity is created
to identify compounds that may interact with one or more targets or pathways
not anticipated by a single mechanism-driven hypothesis. In essence, phenotypic
approaches screen multiple mechanisms and targets simultaneously. Furthermore,
since the initial readouts from cellular assays are more information-rich, the
connection of compound action to disease-relevant phenotypes is established
earlier in the drug discovery process. The challenge with phenotypic drug
discovery ultimately lies in the complexity of fully understanding and assessing
compound differentiation and elucidating with greater resolution the possible
mechanisms of action. Fortunately, this complexity has been substantially
reduced with the development of advanced assay technologies and informatics
tools that make these challenges tractable for drug discovery.
SYNTHONICS RECEIVES MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL METALLO-LEVODOPA COMPOUND
Synthonics adds Charles R. Walgreen to its Business Advisory Board.
Synthonics adds John Borling as Chairman of their Business Advisory Board:
John Borling is Chairman of Performance Consulting Group (PCG), an integrated energy services company, providing conservation solutions to larger
private and public entities. He is a retired Air Force Major General and brings worldwide executive experience at highest levels of staff and
command to identify and further strategy, planning and business objectives for the company. Additionally, General Borling is the founder and
CEO of SOS America (Service Over Self), a national organization advocating one-year of military service for America's youth (18-26). He was
also a Director (Audit and Nominating Committees) of HyperFeed Technologies (HYPRC), a provider of financial exchange services and platforms;
and an advisor to AusAm Biotechnology, a producer of kidney and cardiovascular diagnostics and anti viral inhibitors, Stanton Chase Int., an
executive search firm, and Fifth Media, a community-broadcasting network. Previously, as President/CEO of Chicago's United Way, he led a
rebound of interest and an annual campaign exceeding $95.0 million.
Synthonics presented at the Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference in Washington D.C.
2009 Presenting Companies Announced by Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference! Twenty-Four Companies Selected from across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Nine later-stage growth companies and 15 emerging companies (Synthonics) will present at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference . Companies selected represent the biotech, biopharmaceutical drug development and discovery, devices, and vaccine sectors. Presenting companies were chosen through an industry review process with input from more than 40 investment institutions and industry professionals.
Synthonics Awarded NIH Grant
"Our first grant award from the NIH is a confirmation that our novel metal coordinated
pharmaceutical (MCP) chemistry has commercialization potential" said Kenneth J. Slepicka,
CEO of Synthonics. "Our team, who all helped in preparing a quality proposal,
are excited to pursue this project, which will help both to advance our chemistry and
to address the need for an oral levodopa product that provides steady, continuous blood
levels. We hope that this is the first of many grant awards as we have two other
favorably reviewed applications awaiting funding decisions."
Synthonics Accepted Into Lilly's PD2 Testing Program