Adriacell's CROMOC represents a new class of cancer therapeutics. CROMOC molecules are DNA-double strand breaking biomolecules that actively penetrate cell walls and introduce DNA double strand breaks through an integrated endonuclease in tumor specific loosely packed chromatin.
CROMOC molecules distribute equally well in the body but do not cross the blood brain barrier. They do not enter into the mitochondria.
CROMOC´s (see illustration below) are highly stable enzymatic protein molecules composed of two monomeric subunits (Single Chain linked Endonuclease) covalently connected by stringently selected linker sequences developed at Adriacell (Linker). For cellular import, specific sequences are engineered to the same molecule (Targeting and Cell Penetration Peptide). By the high turnover enzymatic mode of action, considerable effects can be achieved with very low concentrations. CROMOC treatment leads to neoplastic growth inhibition and eventually apoptosis of the tumor cells. Changes in chromatin-packing density, constitutive activation of cellular signaling, increase in surface receptors and DNA double strand break repair impairments all add to the high tumor selectivity of the CROMOC molecules.
Current CROMOC developments are:
- Cancer: optimized lead candidate ADRIAC36, a tumor DNA-double strand breaking biomolecule, follow-up candidates in development
- Inflammation: discovery
Legend:
- DNA double strand breaks are visible after treatment of tumor cells with CROMOC (green)
- Total DNA (red)