EBC-46 was discovered by applying the unique discovery technology EcoLogicTM .
EcoLogic™ is a powerful tool which provides a rational basis for drug discovery from nature. Broadly, the technology integrates:
- Specific knowledge of the plants, animals and microbes of tropical rainforest ecosystems and the chemistry
that drives their ecological interactions; and,
- Mechanistic understanding of defense chemistry and signal induction and transduction in rainforest plants.
This information is used to direct the discovery search to material with a high potential for bioactivity. Simply put, if you understand how the natural systems work you can find biological material with the specific bioactivity (e.g. anti-cancer) that you are looking for. Applying EcoLogic™ provides for a well documented, clearly defined and easily defensible pathway to the discovery of chemicals with pharmaceutical potential, such as EBC-46.
Discovery
- Collection strategies for specific therapeutic areas designed using EcoLogic™.
- Collections are made in the tropical rainforest.
- Extracts from collections screened for in vitro activity against therapeutic targets.
- Bioactivity used to guide isolation of active chemicals.
Isolation & Optimisation
- Structure of active chemicals determined.
- Patenting position evaluated.
- Natural analogues isolated and/or synthetic analogues produced.
- In vitro activity and toxicology of original isolate and analogues profiled.
- Feasibility of commercial production assessed.
Pre-clinical
- In vivo testing in animal models.
- Medicinal chemistry to examine chemical structure activity relationship.
- Formulation, dosage and other drugability issues assessed.
- Safety evaluated using guidelines from the International Committee on Harmonisation.
- Mode of action investigated.
Clinical
A three-phase process in which the chemical is evaluated in the target group (human or veterinary):
Phase I:
The drug is applied to a small number of healthy subjects to assess preliminary safety profile and pattern of drug distribution and metabolism.
Phase II:
A small number of patients with the specific disease are treated to determine preliminary effectiveness, investigate optimal dosages and further assess safety.
Phase III:
Large-scale trials in patients with the target disease to evaluate the comparative efficiency and safety of
the chemical.