There’s Big Business Happening In Drug Repurposing

Uncategorized April 29, 2024February 22, 2023 Staff Editor

How Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) is preparing to tackle multiple diseases with huge markets, by redeveloping pre-approved treatments.

Sold under the name Humira, and boasting 10 approved uses, AbbVie’s adalimumabis has emerged as the best-selling drug in the world.[1]

As 2023 approaches, the biotech sector is priming for when Humira officially becomes off patent, unleashing hordes of copycat companies onto the United States market.[2]

Reformulating old drugs into newly modified applications is BIG BUSINESS, and is a strategy that’s becoming increasingly popular with every year.

And why not? Repurposing generic drugs can reduce time and cost to develop new treatments.[3]

But not all repurposed drugs are worth the effort, as how and where a company directs its focus is crucial. Choosing the right disease and market is a science in and of itself.

One company that’s strategically targeting three diseases with multi-billion-dollar markets is Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL), through proprietary synthetic derivative compounds of two known proven drugs.

By redeveloping an already approved drug for Parkinson’s Disease,  Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) has developed a proprietary synthetic derivative to expand its potential towards neurodegenerative diseases (such as depression), fatty liver disease, and even making STRONG chemotherapy treatments safer in fighting cancer.

Not only is Marvel looking to improve upon the safety of an extremely potent (yet potentially toxic) form of chemotherapy in the fight against cancer… but is also looking to throw its hat into the rapidly growing mental health crisis,[4] through the increasingly less-taboo use of psychedelics as medicine.

Let’s now dive deeper into why Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) is positioned with the right assets and a business plan to bring them to life in the near- to mid-term…

 

 

7 Reasons Investors Should Pay STONG ATTENTION to Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL)

 

1  Synthetic Dervative Compounds of Known Proven Drugs: Lead asset MB-204 is a re-developed derivative of Istradefylline for depression and Alzheimer’s disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease)

2  Significantly Lower Cost: Because of the known history of proven drugs, many of the hurdles have already been cleared, causing a significant discount in cost for the developers. Marvel Biosciences has managed to keep its estimated burn rate low, at just $82,000 per month average fully loaded.

3  Lower Risk Profile: Because many of the safety trials have already been completed with the original proven drugs involved, the safety risk of any re-developed derivative should statistically be lower to begin with.

4  Faster to Commercialization: The drug re-development model is designed to bring a drug asset to commercialization faster than the traditional long-term biotech model.

5  Targeting Multiple Diseases: The company is specifically targeting neurological diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and even cancer by potentially making one of the world’s most powerful chemotherapies less toxic.

6  Large Markets: Through its lead asset MB-204, Marvel Biosciences is targeting depression and Alzheimer’s disease, which is a $30B market, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease) which is a $20B market.

7  Strong Management and Scientific Advisory Board: Led by an experienced team with 50+ years of experience that includes authors of more than 22 patents, more than 130 papers on medicinal and carbohydrate chemistry, highly relevant research in the A2A receptor antagonists in cognition, brain lesions, and tau pathology for applications in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), as well as a leader in translational models to validate drugs developed for neuropsychiatric disorders, a world expert in adenosine, and an inventor of a recombinant protein for stroke and kidney disease.

 

MB-204: LEAD ASSET FOR DEPRESSION AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE / NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS (FATTY LIVER DISEASE)

Through the redevelopment of off patented drugs, Marvel Bioscences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) is seeking to enhance activity for new diseases with their own synthetically derived versions of known drugs already deemed to be safe.

As its lead asset, Marvel is redeveloping istradefylline, a drug approved only for Parkinson’s Disease, and repurposing it for multiple other diseases: Neurological Diseases (Alzheimer’s), Liver Fibrosis Due to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) (aka ‘Fatty Liver Disease’), and Cancer.

Istradefylline is an Adenosine A2a Antagonist that’s similar to caffeine, except MORE THAN 100X MORE ACTIVE.

What Marvel has done is develop MB-204 as a novel fluorinated derivative of Istradefylline, in order to tackle neurodegenerative diseases, fatty liver disease, and now even cancer.[5]

The hypothesis of using this type of drug for these types of diseases isn’t restricted to just Marvel’s brain trust, as there have already been relevant studies on these very topics.

RELEVANT STUDY (ALZHEIMER’S): Emerging roles of dysregulated adenosine homeostasis in brain disorders with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases[6]

RELEVANT STUDY (FATTY LIVER DISEASE): CD39-mediated ATP-adenosine signalling promotes hepatic stellate cell activation and alcoholic liver disease[7]

RELEVANT STUDY (CANCER): Targeting Adenosine in Cancer Immunotherapy to Enhance T-Cell Function[8]

Each disease area that Marvel’s targeting represents a multi-billion market with high, unmet medical need.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease carries an estimated economic burden of $305 billion.[9]
  • Depression Treatment is projected to be a $16B market by 2027.[10]
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is projected to be a $62B market by 2031.[11]

By modifying a known approved drug with logical chemical changes, coupled with the potential to develop the drug for multiple unrelated diseases, Marvel believes it significantly de-risks its drug development efforts.

Under the company’s current projected timeline, Marvel intends to:

  • Begin Phase 1/2 clinical trial of MB-204 – Q1 2023
  • Complete Phase 1/2 clinical trial of MB-204, including placebo and efficacy endpoints – Q1 2023
  • Seek US exchange listing and partnership talks – Q1 2023

Recently Marvel Biosciences, Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) announced that in a recent study performed by the company saw MB-204 demonstrate a 400% increase in the survival rate of animals being treated by high doses of chemotherapy treatment, cisplatin.[12]

Cisplatin is commonly used for a wide range of cancers, and is one of the most powerful chemotherapeutic treatments available today.[13]

However, unfortunately cisplatin also has multiple potentially-catastrophic side effects including kidney and nerve damage,[14] cognitive dysfunction[15] and hearing loss.[16]

By combining MB-204 with the very effective, but highly toxic cisplatin chemotherapy treatment, Marvel’s most recent study supports a significant increase in the company’s market opportunity to also help cancer patients improve their quality of life and reduce organ damage.

By inhibiting the A2a receptor, using the approved Parkinson’s Disease-approved drug Istradefylline reduces kidney and nerve damage in cisplatin treated animals[17], and/or prevent cognitive dysfunction as well.[18]

MARVEL’S NON-HALLUCINOGENIC NEUROPLASTICITY PROGRAM

With several studies pointing towards a strong efficacy of psychedelics for the use in treating severe depression,[19] the potential for medically-controlled usage of therapies involving psilocybin (aka ‘magic mushrooms’) is growing rapidly.

Governments around the world are starting to embrace psychedelics, including in the United States where President Joe Biden’s administration anticipates regulators will approve treatments involving MDMA and psilocybin[20] within the next two years as designated breakthrough therapies for PTSD and Depression.[21]

Scientists are now calling into question the widespread (ineffective) use of antidepressants—including publishing a major review in Molecular Psychiatry that just shattered the serotonin theory of depression.[22]

Several other studies have poked massive holes in the use of antidepressant medications (especially SSRIs), including two others within the past year that show how in the long run, they do nothing to improve the lives of patients.[23],[24]

 What is working? Psilocybin!

The results have been INCREDIBLY positive, with therapies showing effectiveness in major depression for up to a year for most patients[25], while also identifying a robust, reliable and potentially specific biomarker of response to psilocybin therapy for depression.[26]

Marvel Biosciences, Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) has identified a series of related compounds that appear to be potent, fast acting, water soluble and orally available small tryptamine derivatives that have anti-depressive activity but no overt hallucinatory activity in pilot studies.

The company’s second program involves Safer Neuroplastic Promoting Drugs, after identifying a set of molecules inspired by the tryptamine class of psychedelics that are:

  • Fast acting anti-depressants
  • Orally available
  • Water soluble
  • No evidence of hallucinations
  • Lead better than fluoxetine (Prozac, p<0.005)

Solid Share Structure + Balance Sheet

REPURPOSING COMPARABLES

Currently Marvel possesses several assets, but front and center are two strategies to rapidly increase their company’s valuation.

It’s a business model that’s worked well in the past for other groups…

Such as when Celgene modified Thalidomide to Revlimid, leading to the company’s $74-billion sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb.[27]

Or when Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH) modified Cyclosporin to Voclosporin (sold as LUPKYNIS) which has net revenue guidance of $100-105 million for 2022, and $120-140 million for 2023.[28]

Through this strategy, Marvel plans to initiate towards a partnership and licensing discussions, and/or to advance quickly into the clinic.

Marvel Biosciences, Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) is in a great position with its current assets in place for potential catalysts in 2023 and beyond.

Comparable public companies that have recently been at this similar stage are:

  • Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) – $124M mkt cap
  • Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE:ANVS) – $102M mkt cap

Well Managed with Important Experience

Leading the way for Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) is a group of both financial market and biotech experts with significant amounts of industry prestige. The MRVL team includes:

Roderick Matheson – CEO and Director: Matheson’s +35-year career in has built up his expertise as a seasoned senior executive in diverse areas of finance, capital markets, entrepreneurship and investing. He is the Executive Chairman of Renaissance Mercantile Corp., a privately-owned merchant bank. Among his accomplishments are multiple financings in excess of +$1B of both public and private companies in the biotechnology, technology, mining, oil and gas industries as well as numerous venture start-ups.

Dr. Mark Williams – President, Chief Science Officer, and Director: Dr. Williams has 15 years of experience in drug and medical device development,  having already repurposed three drugs from preclinical studies directly to positive phase II data including manufacturing and toxicology. He’s the author of more than 12 patents and an inventor of DM199 (a recombinant protein) in phase II trials for stroke and kidney disease. Dr. Williams is also involved in the financing and collaboration/ partnership side of life science companies, having assisted to secure arrangements with drug foundations, pharma companies and various government agencies including Health Canada and US FDA. ‍

Dr. David Blum – Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Blum is a Senior Investigator and a Research Director of the Alzheimer & Tauopathies team at Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Inserm center in Lille, and adds crucial depth to the scientific board for his highly relevant research in the A2A receptor antagonists in cognition, brain lesions, and tau pathology for applications in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). He’s an expert in neuropathological studies on Tau (and its link to metabolism & neuroinflammation) and purine (and the role of purinergic signalling in neurodegeneration). One of Dr. Blum’s current projects is to provide novel insights into the impact of neuro-glial A2A signalling on cognition and brain lesions in transgenic AD models. This work emphasizes that A2A receptor dysfunction is instrumentally involved in the loss of neuronal synapses driven by Tau pathology in AD and Tauopathies.

Dr. Jared Young, Ph.D. – Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Young is a leader in translational models to validate drugs developed for neuropsychiatric disorders, currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. He investigates the molecular biology and neural circuitry underlying behavioral abnormalities in major neuropsychiatric disorders (using reverse-translated paradigms). Dr. Young has refined new and effective cross-species models, using cutting-edge neuroscience to develop novel and sophisticated cross-species models to identify targetable mechanisms to treat mental illnesses (i.e., using the human 5-choice continuous performance task, initially created for use in mice).

Professor Bruce N. Cronstein, MD – Scientific Advisory Board: Prof. Cronstein is considered the world expert on adenosine, and has led adenosine research for over 38 years, publishing a monumental 365 peer-reviewed articles. The Cronstein laboratory has explored the role of adenosine across multiple thematic areas (including studying its application in neutrophils, inflammation, methotrexate treatments, and since the early 2000s, the adenosine A2A receptor). Prof. Cronstein has led the research of A2A receptor functions, including its roles in dermal fibrosis and scarring, hepatic fibrosis and fatty liver, bone healing, and more recently, chondrocyte metabolism and cartilage matrix maintenance. Prof. Cronstein’s discoveries have led to novel therapeutics and treatments now considered best practice.

Professor Frank Schweizer – Scientific Advisory Board: Prof. Schweizer has published > 130 papers on Medicinal- and Carbohydrate Chemistry and holds over ten patents. Prof. Schweizer is a leader in translational medical treatments, and his research focuses on preclinical drug discovery and development. Currently, Prof. Schweizer is working on applications to overcome drug resistance for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and chemotherapy-resistant cancers.

RECAP: 7 Reasons To Seriously Look Into Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) RIGHT NOW! 

  1. Synthetic Derivative Compounds of Known Proven Drugs 

  1. Signficantly Lower Cost 

  1. Lower Risk Profile

  1. Faster to Commercialization

  1. Targeting Multiple Diseases

  1. Large Markets

  1. Strong Management and Scientific Advisory Board

With potential catalyst events on the near horizon, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME for smart investors to seriously follow the ongoing Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV:MRVL) story—ie. clinical trials are underway, and milestones are on deck for early in 2023.

So, do your due diligence, and don’t forget to click here to subscribe for email updates and make sure you don’t miss out on any of MRVL’s news and milestones.

DISCLAIMER:

Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for Marvel Biosciences Corp. advertising and digital media from USA News Group (“the Company”). There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Marvel Biosciences Corp., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Marvel Biosciences Corp., which were purchased as a part of a private placement. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell shares of Marvel Biosciences Corp.at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles.

While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

SOURCES CITED:

[1] https://www.drugwatch.com/humira/

[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/worlds-top-selling-drug-going-off-patent-means-big-bucks-for-middlemen-11669478041

[3] https://theconversation.com/repurposing-generic-drugs-can-reduce-time-and-cost-to-develop-new-treatments-but-low-profitability-remains-a-barrier-174874

[4] https://www.theravive.com/today/post/psychologists-struggle-to-meet-demand-amid-growing-mental-health-crisis-0004882.aspx

[5] https://marvelbiotechnology.com/marvel-biosciences-lead-drug-candidate-mb-204-demonstrated-a-400-survival-rate-increase-in-animals-treated-with-the-cancer-treatment-cis-platinum/

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34635103/

[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34033815/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6562565/#:~:text=Adenosine%20enables%20tumor%20cells%20to,such%20as%20MDSCs%20and%20Tregs.

[9] https://www.ajmc.com/view/economic-burden-of-alzheimer-disease-and-managed-care-considerations

[10] https://www.biospace.com/article/depression-treatment-market-size-to-reach-usd-16-06-billion-by-2027-industry-trend-advancements-in-depression-treatment-approaches/

 

[11] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/06/08/2243692/0/en/Non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-market-worth-US-62-06-billion-by-2031-Visiongain-Research-Inc.html

[12] https://marvelbiotechnology.com/marvel-biosciences-lead-drug-candidate-mb-204-demonstrated-a-400-survival-rate-increase-in-animals-treated-with-the-cancer-treatment-cis-platinum/

[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7059781/

[14] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cisplatin-intravenous-route/side-effects/drg-20062953?p=1

[15] https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/neurology-neurosurgery/news/chemotherapy-induced-cognitive-impairment-a-potential-preventive-strategy/mac-20517209#:~:text=Cisplatin%20impairs%20the%20ongoing%20process,on%20hippocampal%20neurogenesis%20in%20mice.

[16] https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cncr.33848

[17] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36377661/

[18] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35867768/

[19] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/psychedelic-treatment-with-psilocybin-relieves-major-depression-study-shows

[20] https://www.optimihealth.ca/biden-administration-plans-for-legal-psychedelic-therapies-within-two-years/

[21] https://theintercept.com/2022/07/26/mdma-psilocybin-fda-ptsd/

[22] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0

[23] https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-04-20/in-long-run-antidepressants-dont-improve-quality-of-life-study

[24] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/#:~:text=With%20antidepressants%3A%20About%2040%20to,within%20six%20to%20eight%20weeks

[25] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/psilocybin-treatment-for-major-depression-effective-for-up-to-a-year-for-most-patients-study-shows

[26] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01744-z

[27] https://www.statnews.com/2019/01/22/celgene-legacy-chutzpah-science-drug-pricing/

[28] https://ir.auriniapharma.com/press-releases/detail/269/aurinia-reports-third-quarter-and-nine-months-2022

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