Le Lézard
Classified in: Health, Business
Subject: TNM

THERILLIA acquires TAVEC Pharmaceutical and moves it to Montreal


MONTREAL, April 18, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Therillia Development Co., a Montreal-based subsidiary of Sanderling Ventures Canada, an investor in early-stage biotech companies, has acquired TAVEC Pharmaceuticals, the leading therapeutic exosome company and is moving its head office from New York to Montreal. Tavec is an early stage therapeutics company focused on developing the next generation of potent anti-cancer gene therapies using the power of injectable, miRNA loaded exosomes, packets of pinched off membrane which penetrate solid tumors, in particular liver cancers.

Logo: Therillia (CNW Group/Therillia Development Company Inc.)

"We have developed a broad-based technology platform that has all the attributes required for multiple therapeutic applications," says Stephen Gould, Ph.D. who, with Florin Selaru, M.D., are leading researchers in the field of exosomes and liver disease. Both are from Johns Hopkins University.

Created in New York in 2015, Tavec pharmaceuticals received seed funding and has successfully completed pre-clinical studies. It is currently working on developing its filings in Quebec to initiate clinical trials in liver cancers and chronic liver diseases. "We are very excited to be moving this unique technology into the clinic in the near future in Quebec," indicated Dr. Fred Hochberg, one of the founders of TAVEC. Dr. Hochberg has had a distinguished career in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. 

"Montreal offers one of the world's most thriving ecosystems for developing biotech companies, including its globally renowned research institutions, rich pool of experienced drug developers and a cost-effective environment for developing important new therapeutics," said Pierre Beauparlant, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer at Therillia. TAVEC is the eighth portfolio company Sanderling has established in Montreal under Therillia in the past five years.

Using Exosomes to Cure Liver Diseases

Exosomes are small vesicles, ~30?150 nm in diameter, produced by all cells and are a major means of cell-to-cell communication. The pioneering work of Gould, Selaru and Ling Li showed that specific types of these vesicles, prepared from select cell cultures, penetrate the stromal matrix of hepatic carcinomas and accumulate in the liver cancer cells. Moreover, injection of exosomes loaded with therapeutic RNAs has been shown to lead to the functional delivery of these RNAs to and into cancer cells, suppressing cancer in aggressive rodent liver cancer models. Furthermore, TAVEC's proprietary exosome-RNA formulations appear to be effective in models of chronic liver disease, as described by Dr. Gould and Dr. Luke Boulter of Edinburgh University.

"The literature suggests that various forms of RNA can be effective therapeutic agents if they can be appropriately delivered to the needed site. The exosomes from the TAVEC preparations have shown that capability. This gives hope to the multitude of patients suffering from liver cancer," said Dr. Hochberg.

About Therillia

Based in Montreal where it was created in 2013, Therillia Development Co. is a subsidiary of Sanderling Ventures, one of the oldest and most established North American venture firms focused exclusively on biomedical investing. Therillia's mission is to benefit from Québec's exceptional scientific and drug development potential to create medical therapies or medical device assets held by Sanderling portfolio companies. This model of "active management" utilizes the expertise of Therillia's seasoned drug development team and has been successful in advancing multiple projects in a cost-effective manner. For more information, visit https://therillia.com

 

SOURCE Therillia Development Company Inc.


These press releases may also interest you

at 14:12
Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization commends the State Assembly's proposed funding increase of $2.5 million for the Cancer Services Program (CSP) in the FY2025 Budget....

at 14:00
Neuroscientists have established in recent decades the idea that some of each day's experiences are converted by the brain into permanent memories during sleep the same night. Now, a new study proposes a mechanism that determines which memories are...

at 14:00
While traditional diaper rash creams are thick, sticky, and messy, Taro's new bébé Bottoms Diaper Rash Crème Spray allows for easy, one-handed application of a gentle spray formula that is touch-free with no rubbing needed. The light spray, which...

at 13:55
An expert panel has published the first performance measures to identify remission and evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine treatments, which will allow more objective comparisons between lifestyle behavior interventions and other...

at 13:51
BRIJ Medical proudly welcomes three distinguished industry leaders to its Board of Directors: John Grotting, Bob Zollars, and Jim Hinrichs. Leveraging their extensive experience and insights, they will steer the company's strategic vision and drive...

at 13:47
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many Canadians, your hard work isn't paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn't go as far as costs go up, and saving enough to go after your dreams seems harder and harder....



News published on and distributed by: