the distillery

SciBX: Science–Business eXchange Copyright © 2008 Nature Publishing Group �

This week in therapeutics

Indication
Target/marker/
pathway Summary

Licensing 
status

Publication and contact  
information

Cancer

Colon cancer Guanylyl cyclase 
2C (heat-stable 
enterotoxin 
receptor; 
GUCY2C)

Studies in mice suggest that immunization with 
GUCY2C could help treat or prevent metastatic 
colon cancer. In healthy mice, immunization with 
GUCY2C-expressing viral vectors before challenge 
with GUCY2C-expressing mouse colon cancer 
cells minimized metastasis to the liver and lungs 
compared with that seen in mock-treated control 
mice (p=0.008 and p<0.001, respectively). In mice 
with established metastases, median survival was 38 
days for immunized mice compared with 29 days 
for untreated mice (p=0.024). The antitumor and 
prosurvival effects occurred without autoimmune 
reactions. Completion of safety and efficacy studies 
in animals, as well as GMP studies, are necessary 
before the vaccine enters the clinic.  
Castillo Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s SP-304, a GUCY2C 
agonist, is in Phase I testing to treat irritable bowel 
syndrome (IBS). Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and 
Forest Laboratories are developing MD-1100, a 
GUCY2C agonist that is in Phase II testing to treat 
constipation and IBS.

Patent applications 
submitted; 
Targeted 
Diagnostics & 
Therapeutics Inc. 
has exclusive 
worldwide 
rights to the 
GUCY2C cancer 
technology and 
has sublicensed 
most of the cancer 
applications 
to Millennium 
Pharmaceuticals 
Inc.; some of 
the vaccine 
applications 
available for 
sublicensing

Snook, A. et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; 
published online June 24, 2008; 
doi:10.1093/jnci/djn178 
Contact: Scott A. Waldman, 
Thomas Jefferson University, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
e-mail:  
scott.waldman@jefferson.edu

http://www.scibx.com
mailto:scott.waldman@jefferson.edu

	Guanylyl cyclase 2C (heat-stable enterotoxin receptor; GUCY2C)
	Summary
	Licensing Status
	References