Third cancer drug to use Weizmann patent

April 6, 2016

A new drug recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat a specific type of lung cancer, is the third cancer drug on the market that uses a Weizmann Institute of Science patent.

This patent is designed to block a receptor on the surface of cells called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is implicated in cancer development.

Some years ago, studies by Professor Michael Sela and colleagues Dr Esther Aboud-Pirak and Dr Esther Hurwitz from Weizmann’s Immunology Department, discovered that EGFR-inhibiting antibodies produce an anti-cancer effect if used in combination with chemotherapy.  This discovery was then patented and has now a third anti-cancer drug affiliated to it.

Mr Amir Naiberg, CEO of the Yeda Research and Development Company – the commercialisation arm of Weizmann’s research – applauded the latest approval.

“It’s a great achievement of technology transfer.  A single patent has led to three licensing agreements and three different therapies for various malignancies,” he said.

These three EGFR blocker drugs, given to cancer patients with certain genetic features, are helping save lives around the world.

The new drug is called Portrazza (manufactured by Eli Lilly) and is delivered by intravenous injection, combined with chemotherapy drugs to treat metastatic squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma, for which there are limited treatment options.  During a phase III clinical trial Portrazza used in combination was shown to improve survival of patients.

The first drug on the market using the Weizmann patent is called Erbitux (manufactured by Merck and Eli Lilly) and is approved in many countries for use in combination with chemotherapy or radiation to treat head and neck cancers plus metastatic colorectal cancer.

The second is Vectibix (manufactured by Amgen), again approved for use in combination with chemotherapy or sometimes, if the chemotherapy fails, alone.  This is also for treating metastatic colorectal cancer.

More Posts

2023 International Summer School students return inspired

Three lucky Australian high school graduates spent the month of July attending the Weizmann Institute of Science’s annual International Summer Science Institute (ISSI) in Israel. First year science students, Chi…

eastRead More

New scholarship launched in partnership with General Sir John Monash Foundation

The Weizmann Institute of Science has launched a new scholarship in partnership with the General Sir John Monash Foundation, with applications now open and closing on 14 July 2023. The…

eastRead More

A Weizmann Masters Experience – from Australia to Israel

Can we predict our own future?  For Australian scientist, Rebecca Hertzman, currently undertaking her Masters of Science in chemical biology and drug discovery at the Weizmann Institute of Science in…

eastRead More

International Science Summer School 2023 – applications are open!

The Weizmann International Summer Science Institute (ISSI) in Israel is back and applications are now open for budding, young Australian science students who are studying at University this year, to…

eastRead More

View All