Scottish Enterprise awards TC BioPharm a SMART:SCOTLAND grant for research into novel cancer biomarkers
Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's main economic development agency, has awarded TC BioPharm (TCB) a £100,000 SMART: SCOTLAND feasibility study grant, to develop biomarkers capable of predicting treatment responses in cancer patients. The grant has been awarded to TC BioPharm to enable the company to perform innovative research evaluating microRNA expression in cancer patients.
Recent research has shown that microRNA levels can change dramatically in patients depending upon the severity of their disease. Taking melanoma as an example, several scientists have reported that specific microRNAs were up-regulated in blood and urine when the tumour became more invasive, spreading from the skin to other tissues.
TC BioPharm chief executive Dr Michael Leek explained, ‘by identifying and labelling microRNA populations which are increased in malignant disease, we may be able to develop a series of tests which are not only diagnostic, but also capable of predicting treatment response’.
TC Biopharm will use the SMART: SCOTLAND grant to collaborate with Sistemic (Glasgow), and develop novel bio-marker probes which will allow patients to receive treatment which is more likely to achieve a positive outcome. In the case of cancer, TC BioPharm believes that use of microRNA biomarkers will allow the company to identify then treat patients with a high likelihood of responding to its innovative cell therapy.
TCB’s therapy uses patients’ own immune cells grown in culture to target cancer, and has an established history of safe use based on the treatment of numerous patients. The Company plans to treat the first cohort of cancer patients during 2015, working alongside established clinics in Glasgow, Southampton and Birmingham.
David Gallagher, TCB’s director of commercial affairs commented that, ‘we would not be able to commence this innovative project without grant support from Scottish Enterprise, in addition to generating new intellectual assets in the emerging field of cancer biomarkers, we also have the potential to significantly improve patient quality of life by ensuring the correct patients get an optimised ‘personalised’ treatment every time’.
Michael Cannon, SMART: SCOTLAND director, Scottish Enterprise said: “Our support for companies, like TC Biopharm, through SMART: SCOTLAND, allows ambitious Scottish businesses to realise their strategic growth plans more quickly. It’s our role at Scottish Enterprise to ensure that companies have access to the right support at the right time - allowing them to reach their full potential.”