MMRL has already identified a number of key regulatory
steps in fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism that offer
novel targets for drug development. In some cases, lead compounds
have been identified and their efficacy in the treatment of
cardiac ischemia has been documented under experimental and
clinical conditions. MMRL aims to develop further this technology
through collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry in
the form of partnerships and licensing agreements.
MMRL has also arrays of drug activity at other targets. This
patented molecular and biochemical technology will be made
available, under exclusive licensing agreements, to industrial
partners. These agreements will facilitate the identification
and joint patenting of lead compounds that will undergo further
pre-clinical development in animal models, which are already
established in MMRL laboratories.
Human clinical trials to assess efficacy and safety, as well
as submissions to the drug regulatory authorities, will be
accomplished by MMRL through collaboration with partners from
the pharmaceutical industry.
Strategy
MMRL's strategy for growth and bringing products to market
is described in the Drug Development plan summarized below:
The Organization
MMRL is a limited company. The company is a joint venture
with the University of Alberta. MMRL, through its major shareholders,
is directly responsible for the total control and operation
of the company. MMRL has obtained and secured laboratory space
to commence drug development on the University of Alberta
campus.
Markets
The company's primary focus will be to develop cardiovascular
drugs that act as metabolic modulators. Despite the presence
of a number of pharmaceutical products on the market for treatment
of various forms of heart disease, including angina pectoris,
acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertorphic heart
disease, cardiomyopathies, congestive heart failure, peripheral
vascular diseases such as intermittentment claudation and
efficiency of the reperfused post - ischemic heart are less
than adequate. Optimizing energy metabolism is a novel way
of treating these disorders.
MMRL is a leader in developing and bringing the next generation
of heart/ skeletal muscle drugs to this huge market. Major
pharmaceutical companies have expressed a keen interest in
this world-class research.
This is a billion - dollar industry with no real product on
the horizon. The potential market for this product is global.
Marketing
MMRL, through its CEO, has had success in bringing
the concepts and proven research on metabolic modulation to
the world stage. Dr. Lopaschuk is in high demand around the
world as a lecturer on metabolic modulation. Important contacts
have been made with senior scientists of major pharmaceutical
companies about the importance and potential marketing of
these metabolic agents. MMRL is routinely contracted by pharmaceutical
companies to show if their compounds are acting on the heart
as metabolic modulators. |
