AMINO ACID-DEGRADING ENZYMES AS ANTICANCER AGENTS

ENZON, INC. IS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTIC ENZYMES FOR HUMAN AND VETERINARY USE. MANY ENZYMES HAVE SHOWN EFFECTIVENESS AS ANTICANCER AGENTS ON INITIAL INJECTION, BUT THEIR IMMUNOGENICITY AND SHORT PLASMA HALF-LIFE HAVE PREVENTED EXPLOITATION OF THEIR POTENTIAL. ENZON, INC. WILL MODIFY TWO GLUTAMINASE-ASPARAGINASES AND A HISTIDASE USING A PATENTED COMPANY PROCESS TO PRODUCE ENZYME-POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) CONJUGATES WITH VASTLY IMPROVED PLASMA HALF-LIVES AND GREATLY REDUCED IMMUNOGENICITIES. THESE PEG ENZYMES CAN BE INJECTED REPEATEDLY SO THAT THEIR FULL THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL CAN BE REALIZED. ENZON, INC. WILL PERFORM PLASMA HALF-LIFE AND INITIAL TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE THREE PEG ENZYMES. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO OBTAIN INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG (IND) APPROVAL AND COMMENCE CLINICAL STUDIES. THESE ENZYMES ARE THE FORERUNNERS OF A LARGE GROUP OF NONESSENTIAL AND ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID-DEGRADING ENZYMES THATWILL BE DEVELOPED AS THERAPEUTIC AGENTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF CANCER.