Drug Discovery Unit

Currently the research group targets major cancer-driving proteins in childhood and adult cancers, and is developing novel ways to deliver therapies to reach previously inaccessible targets inside cancer cells.

This approach exploits a powerful drug discovery platform which offers three core capabilities:

A structurally diverse library comprising hundreds of billions of unique natural peptide compounds - a new drug class known as "Phylomers” - selected by nature for the ability to bind and modulate potential drug targets

A unique platform for discovery of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) that can deliver drugs inside cells with vastly superior delivery efficacies to existing technologies

A drug discovery platform that is optimised for generation of potent Phylomer lead molecules against cancer targets found inside cells.

These unique collections of Phylomer peptides have generated significant IP and are strongly protected by a portfolio of 18 patent families, including granted patents in the US and Europe.

The research of the unit is funded by contracts with several large pharmaceutical companies via a commercial entity named “Phylogica”, which was the first spin-off company from the Telethon Kids Institute. Listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Phylogica (PYC) is a specialist drug discovery company that identifies new prototype drugs for pharmaceutical partners. In the last few years, Phylogica has entered into alliances with several of the leading global Pharmaceutical companies, including Roche, Pfizer, Medimmune (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) and Genentech (a subsidiary of Roche).

Team Highlights

1. Extended collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche group, to discover novel antibiotics using Phylogica’s proprietary cell penetrating peptide discovery technology
2. US patent granted covering the identification of Phylomers with the ability to specifically enter brain endothelial cells
3. Extensive validation of Phylogia’s proprietary cell penetrating peptide discovery technology through the delivery of different therapeutic cargoes