Avalon, TPG Lead $15M Deal to Advance Metformin as Cancer Drug
Summary
As MD Anderson researcher Aung Naing put it, “This oldie for endocrinologists is the new kid on the block for oncologists.” About a year ago, UCLA researchers Richard Pietras and Michael Jung produced some “compelling data” on the use of metformin in mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, according to David Campbell, a longtime San Diego biotech executive.The financing is expected to provide enough capital to advance Enlibrium’s lead compounds through Phase 1 clinical trials.Campbell, whose resume includes stints at Phenomix, RQx Pharmaceuticals, Afraxis, Sitari, and others, has taken the helm as Enlibrium’s CEO.Campbell explained that with certain cancers, metformin appears to act like a kind of carburetor choke valve that strangles this process.But studies also show the effects are limited to a small number of cancers that express specific “transporter proteins,” which open pores through the cellular wall and enable metformin to enter the cell.