Bionovo discovers new estrogen regulatory elements for breast cancer and osteoporosis drugs

Jun 16 2008

Bionovo Inc. today announced results on the role of estrogen regulatory elements important in developing drugs for breast cancer and osteoporosis.

The data, which were presented at the Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting, showed that the new regulatory elements are essential for the differentiation of the estrogenic pharmacological activity exerted by different compounds.

"Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) differ from estrogen in how they regulate gene transcription and result in different pharmacological profiles and clinical effects," said Dr. Dale Leitman, from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. "This study identified gene elements that are activated by SERMs but not by estrogens used in hormone therapy. The identification of these elements, coupled with the understanding of the differential regulation in various tissues, provides a new platform for the discovery of estrogenic drugs with SERM-like profiles."

The study was conducted by investigators at The Center for Reproductive Sciences in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with scientists at Bionovo.

"The discovery of these selective estrogen regulatory elements strengthens our SERM discovery engine," said Isaac Cohen, Bionovo's chairman and chief executive officer. "The advantage of the new array of specific regulatory elements is manifest in the pharmacological and toxicological insights gained. We can now acquire higher predictive value and greater specificity from a very complex biological system. I believe this puts Bionovo at the forefront of more rapidly developing future SERM products which are far more specific."

Bionovo is discovering and developing a new generation of novel selective estrogen modulators. The selectivity is based on receptor subtype regulation, agonist, antagonist effect, selective gene activation and repression and specific recruitment of co-regulatory proteins. Selective estrogen receptor modulators can be useful for many indications in women's health such as breast and uterine cancer, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, vaginal atrophy, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other disorders. This platform provides Bionovo the molecular, pharmacological and toxicological insights needed for drugs of the future.