October 31, 1996
SickKids and Hyal Pharmaceutical to collaborate on research for vascular disease and cancer
TORONTO - The Hospital for Sick Children and Hyal Pharmaceutical Corporation (TSE: HPC, NASDAQ: HYALF) announced today a collaborative research agreement designed to link the findings of basic laboratory research with the delivery of potential treatments for vascular disease and cancerous tumours.
The agreement focuses on supporting the research of cell biologist Dr. Eva Turley, an international expert in the field of hyaluronan. Hyaluronan, an acidic sugar found in the body, normally functions as an adhesive and a lubricant in tissues. Dr. Turley's previous research, sponsored by Hyal, the Medical Research Council of Canada, the National Cancer Institute and the Terry Fox Foundation, has shown that in certain circumstances hyaluronan can successfully inhibit vascular disease and tumour development. She demonstrated for the first time that hyaluronan has a role in directly regulating cell functions and has the ability to modify some vascular disease and tumour processes. Dr. Turley's basic research is focused upon discerning the mechanisms by which hyaluronan regulates these diseases.
The joint venture effectively links SickKids's goal of fostering research which improves the understanding, treatment and prevention and cure of children's diseases with Hyal's commitment of supporting research which leads to the development of new drug products.
"This is our first collaboration with a company in the private sector to sponsor a Research Institute scientist," explains SickKids Research Institute Director Manuel Buchwald. "We're particularly excited about this development because it demonstrates that we can effectively collaborate with industry to focus on compatible research goals."
Dr. Turley was recently appointed a Scientist in the Cardiovascular Research Division of the SickKids Research Institute and Vice President of Basic Research at Hyal. Part of her research will focus on drug product development using Hyal's proprietary HIT technology that allows targeting of drugs to sites of pathology. Dr. Turley's research at SickKids is expected to not only lead to new discoveries of how vascular diseases progress but also to novel therapeutic approaches to contain theses diseases.
"The Hospital for Sick Children is a world class centre and an incredibly rich environment in which to do research," says Dr. Turley. "Working with Hyal offers me the opportunity to bring basic research, that I've worked on all my adult life, to the clinical stage. As such, this opportunity is a unique and exciting one for me and my students."
"While Hyal has many international collaborations, we are particularly pleased to establish a relationship here at home with The Hospital for Sick Children," says Dr. Sam Asculai, President and CEO of Hyal. "We believe the combined force of our two organizations will be a formidable example of bringing a drug from the scientific bench to the hospital bedside."
With a staff of more than 4,200, The Hospital for Sick Children is North America's largest paediatric academic health sciences centre. Approximately 900 people are affiliated with the hospital's Research Institute. The hospital is affiliated with the University of Toronto.
Hyal Pharmaceutical Corporation specializes in the development and worldwide commercialization of pharmaceutical formulations utilizing is proprietary drug delivery system, Hyaluronan Induced Targeting (HIT) Technology.
For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs
The Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Avenue
Suite 1742, Public Affairs, First floor Atrium
Toronto,
ON
M5G 1X8
Canada
Tel: 416-813-5058
Fax: 416-813-5328