Malignant melanoma identified as disease target for YP004, York Pharma’s skin cancer programme

York Pharma plc, the AIM-listed (AIM: YRK) strategic acquirer, developer and marketer of pharmaceutical products in the field of dermatology, announces the identification of malignant melanoma as a cancer target for YP004, a pre-clinical antibody programme.

York has discovered a cell surface receptor (RPE65) involved in the uptake of retinol (vitamin A) that is active in two skin malignancies, malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. In malignant melanoma, the cancer cells produce a significantly higher density of the receptor than non-cancerous melanocytes. Since YP004 targets this receptor, it may have potential in the treatment of melanoma, of which there are 150,000 diagnoses annually. The same cell-surface receptor has also been identified in renal cell carcinoma, and York Pharma has filed for patent protection in relation to these findings.

York has encouraging in vitro data demonstrating that inhibition of RPE65 is associated with a decrease in the quantity of vitamin A available to the cell, which in a cancer cell culture model resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cellular division.

Terry Sadler, York Pharma’s CEO commented: ‘York Pharma is pleased with the progress of the YP004 programme, which we expect to develop further in conjunction with partners. Current melanoma treatments, largely antineoplastic agents and immunomodulators, can be associated with low efficacy and high toxicity. A clear need remains for novel therapeutics for this and other unmet medical needs in a market currently valued at US$19bn and growing at 14%*.’

* IMS retail global sales of cytostatic agents; 12 months to November 2005