Article from Innovation
New Zealand – NZ's Best of the Best 2003
Pacific Edge Biotechnology – PEBL
– is another New Zealand first. PEBL is an early
stage biomedical company that joins state of the art
genetics and molecular biology with proprietary bioinformatic
software to identify unique combinations of genes which
define disease tissues. PEBL's mission is to use
gene profiles as the basis for powerful tools to improve
the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease, especially
cancer.
PEBL combines the best of New Zealand
innovation with a broad international background and
outlook. PEBL is based upon world class technology in
biomedicine and the computer sciences developed at the
University of Otago, drawing on a global network of
expertise and collaboration. The company's founders
are internationally recognised leaders in the fields
of cancer genetics and complex data analysis using highly
sophisticated methods.
The products which PEBL is working to
introduce would provide an enormous benefit to mankind
by detecting cancer earlier and providing more effective
treatments. The value they hope to create will be equally
large.
"Innovation is an ongoing process
at PEBL" says Chief Executive Charles Davis Farmer Jnr. "The
Company is a discovery engine rather than a company
based upon a product developed elsewhere. With our collaborators
at the University of Otago, PEBL has the capacity to
study hundreds of different diseases without major changes
in staffing or technology. This means we can build a
very long, deep pipeline of products over the next few
years and pick and choose the ones we want to pursue."
"It represents the best of New Zealand
innovation working to do well, by doing good.'
Research Director Parry Guilford heads
up PEBL's discovery efforts:
"Cancer is caused by changes in the genes which
control cell proliferation and survival, PEBL is using
high-throughput gene expression technology (every gene
in the human genome is represented in a single experiment)
to identify the specific genes that show abnormal activity
in a ranges of tumours, including stomach and bladder
cancer."
The company is working with a global network
of collaborators to design products which will reduce
diagnostic costs and improve their ease of use and accuracy
so testing will be available to large numbers of people
at risk of specific diseases. Scientific Advisory Board
Chairman, and co-founder, Professor Tony Reeve oversees
this network on the Company's behalf.
PEBL is also developing tools to better
predict disease progression so therapy can be managed
more effectively, and to perhaps find targets leading
to the design of better therapeutic drugs.
An important competitive advantage for
PEBL, is its proprietary neural network-based software,
which recognises patterns in complex data sets.
PEBL is investigating how this core analytical
software can also be used as the basis for products
to help clinicians and researchers predict disease risk
and outcomes, from a clinician's desktop.
PEBL PRODUCT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:
Diagnostic Markers
Genes with abnormal activity are being developed as
diagnostic markers for (1) early detection of cancer
(to enable surgical excision before tumour spread);
(2) monitoring the disease status of patients after
surgery or clinical intervention to obtain early evidence
of relapse; and (3) use in clinical drug trials to monitor
disease regression and drug efficacy.
Prognostic Markers
More complex patterns of gene expression that predict
the clinical behaviour of cancer, such as the likely
response to chemotherapy, are also being identified
by PEBL. These patterns can then be used to tailor treatment
to an individual's particular tumour.
Gene Mapping
In addition to the gene expression studies, PEBL is
isolating a gene that it believes will have therapeutic
uses as a treatment for thrombocytopenia (low blood
platelet count).
The New Zealand company's global market advantages
include low development costs, due to low overheads
and other cost structures, close partnerships with clinical
colleagues, and a highly skilled, multidisciplinary
team that integrates genetics, pathology, oncology,
surgery and bioinformatics.
Formed in 2001, PEBL is located at the
Centre for Innovation on the campus of the University
of Otago.
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