Multi-million dollar funding is allowing University of Queensland scientists, in conjunction with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, to broaden their search for therapeutic drugs based on the deadly venom of Australia’s snakes.
UQ, in partnership with QRxPharma Pty Ltd, has secured an ARC Linkage Discovery grant worth $4.6 million, including cash as well as direct and indirect contributions made by all parties.
The three-year funding deal will potentially allow UQ’s Venomics group to identify every protein in the venom of Australian snakes, according to Professor Martin Lavin, one of Venomics’ three chief investigators.
“The Venomics project is built upon more than 20 years’ research initiated by Dr Paul Masci and then in collaboration with myself and Professor John de Jersey,” said Professor Lavin.
“However, our recent alliance with QRxPharma and now this ARC grant has allowed us to broaden our perspective. We can now systematically search snake venoms and characterise a range of compounds and agents with therapeutic potential.
“Already, the project is up and running and really going well – we’ve had a good start.”
The group is particularly searching for agents that alter the coagulation process, are neurotoxins, or are antibacterial, respectively. Such agents could produce drugs to control bleeding, provide pain relief, alleviate neurological diseases, and kill harmful bacteria.
In a deal brokered by UniQuest, UQ’s main commercialisation company, QRxPharma has the commercial right to any potential therapeutic discoveries made by the Venomics group from this funded project in the next three years.
Two potential drug candidates previously identified by the Venomics group have been licensed to QRxPharma by UniQuest, with one of these, Q8010, in pre-clinical trials.
Professor Lavin said the UQ Venomics Group is delighted with the continuing collaboration with their industry partner.
“As scientists we make discoveries and innovations but we’re not normally exposed to the commercial reality; we need industry to bring in the commercial expertise to help get products to market. This way the community also benefits from our work.”
According to UniQuest Managing Director, David Henderson, the collaboration between UQ’s Venomics group and QRxPharma is an example of Queensland’s “Smart State” approach to fostering research and commercial development in our own backyard.
“It’s great that Australian investment into Australian research could see the development of pharmaceuticals derived from Australia’s unique fauna to help millions of people worldwide,” said Mr Henderson.
The Venomics group is lead by three chief investigators: Dr. Paul Masci, based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Professor Martin Lavin, based at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Professor John de Jersey, and Dr. Luke Guddat.
QRxPharma was formed by UniQuest and QRxPharma President, Dr Gary Pace, in late 2002 with initial venture capital backing lead by Innovation Capital (Australia and US), Nanyang Ventures (Australia), SpringRidge Ventures (US) and UniSeed (Australia).
The ARC Linkage project ‘Venomics: Molecular and functional analysis of Australian snake venoms for development of human therapeutics’ will run over three years.
Media: For more information contact Julia Renaud, Corporate Development Manager, UniQuest telephone: 07 3365 4037, Mobile: 0438 436 179, Email: j.renaud@uniquest.com.au
