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Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent Development

Award Number: R41CA203090
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/15/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2018

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Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent Development - ¿ DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly form of cancer and patient survival depends upon the stage of diagnosis. While overall survival at diagnosis is only about 4-6 months, 30-40% of patients with stage I disease survive 5 years. The best currently available diagnostic test which is routinely performed in patients at high risk for PDAC is endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). However, EUS has low specificity and poor interobserver reliability. One of the two PIs has identified and validated Thy1 as a novel, highly specific neoangiogenesis marker in patients with PDAC. In a preliminary study the PI tested an ultrasound contrast agent bearing antibodies to Thy1 and showed in a mouse model that contrast enhanced ultrasound could detect pancreatic tumors < 2-mm in size. This PI has also identified a peptide that binds to both murine and human Thy1. The second and corresponding PI on this project developed the world's #1 selling ultrasound contrast agent and the chemist on this project previously developed the first clinical grade molecularly targeted contrast agent to enter clinical trials. The overall goal of this grant proposal is to develop a novel clinically translatableThy1-targeted ultrasound contrast agent to improve visualization and earlier detection of PDAC, thereby improving overall survival of patients with PDAC. We will create bioconjugates of the peptide to Thy1, incorporate them into ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles), confirm binding to Thy1 in vitro, and then confirm efficacy in murine models of PDAC. Because PDAC often arises in the setting of chronic pancreatitis we will also confirm that the Thy1- targeted ultrasound contrast agent discriminates between PDAC and chronic pancreatitis. The new clinical grade Thy1-targeted contrast agent can enter formal development as a new drug candidate in Phase II.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2018	2016	NUVOX PHARMA, L.L.C.	1635 E. 18TH ST	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	4/27/2018	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2017	2016	NUVOX PHARMA, L.L.C.	1635 E. 18TH ST	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	8/10/2017	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $297,786 )
2016	2016	NUVOX PHARMA LLC	1635 EAST 18TH STREET	TUCSON	AZ	85715	PIMA	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	3/11/2016	NEW	$297,786
														Subtotal = $297,786

Grand Total All Awards = $297,786

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Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent Development

Award Number: R41CA203090

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/15/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2018

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