NextGen Bioscience

NextGen’s mission is to create a new generation of targeted human therapeutics which are safe and effective against a broad range of cancers and infectious diseases.

• Cancer is a devastating disease, characterised by abnormal growth and proliferation of cells which may invade adjacent tissues and spread to other areas of the body. According to the World Health Organisation (2006), cancer accounts for 13 percent of all deaths worldwide.

• As a result, the market for effective cancer therapeutics is immense, bringing in revenues of US$ 23.6 billion in 2004, projected to rise to US$ 60.6 billion by 2011.

• Even in the 21st century, cancer treatment regimes are based on chemotherapy, highly toxic regimes with significant side-effects, but new developments are emerging based on targeted therapies which are directed specifically at the cancer, without harming healthy cells. Analysts broadly predict targeted therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies to drive the total market growth by adding to existing therapies and attracting new patients.

• NextGen’s proprietary anti-cancer candidates include Prostaganin (targeting prostate cancer) and Tetanolic (targeting breast cancer) which have, in preliminary studies, shown to be able to target cancer cells without affecting normal tissue and therefore have potential to be developed into blockbuster drugs. Further oncological candidates are under evaluation.

• Further technology platforms include an improved method for identification of the cancer stem cells which are the precursors of breast cancer – this exciting technology will aim to facilitate the identification of unique biomarkers on these precursor cells, which will then allow their specific destruction.

• An emerging indication area for NextGen is in infectious disease, particularly hospital acquired infections such as MRSA. MRSA infections are becoming more prevalent in healthcare settings: in 1974, MRSA infections accounted for two percent of the total number of infections; in 1995 it was 22 percent; and in 2004 it was 63 percent (US Centers for Disease Control, 2007). The bacteria responsible are increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. One of NextGen’s potential acquisition candidates will target hospital acquired infections such as MRSA.

• NextGen’s business model of global outsourcing, international collaboration, the benefit of advice from leading experts in the field and use of regulatory fast-tracking ensures accelerated drug development – and early exit to larger biotech or pharma companies which have the necessary infrastructure to develop the products further.

• Revenues gained through licensing activities will be reinvested into research and development of new agents for the benefit of patients and Nextgen’s partners and investors.