NEWS

 MONTREAL, May 30, 2023 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics targeting the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin notes the recent publication of a detailed description concerning the involvement of N-cadherin in leukemia. See https://doi.org/10.1017/erm.2023.13

The review, written by Jessica Parker, Sean Hockney, and Deepali Pal of Northumbria University and Orest Blaschuk of Zonula discusses current research on acute pediatric leukemia and recently discovered therapeutic opportunities to target N-cadherin-mediated leukemia cell adhesion in the bone marrow. In particular, the review describes the role of N-cadherin in promoting leukemia cell growth in the bone marrow and discusses the ability of N-cadherin-mediated leukemia adhesion to protect cancer cells from chemotherapy. Zonula's small molecule, N-cadherin inhibitors could potentially be used to disrupt leukemia cell adhesion in the bone marrow and sensitize the cancer cells to chemotherapeutics.

MONTREAL, September 1, 2022 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics targeting the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin notes the recent publication of a significant study validating the importance of N-cadherin as a therapeutic target for leukemias.

Leukemia cells are protected from chemotherapy by the bone marrow, in which they reside in a dormant state. These drug resistant cancer cells adhere to normal support cells in the bone marrow using N-cadherin. Investigators at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom have now demonstrated that an inhibitor of N-cadherin, called ADH-1 disrupts leukemic cell adhesion to bone marrow cells causing them to become activated and sensitive to killing by chemotherapeutics (Cell Reports Medicine 3:100717). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379122002609 These findings provide proof-of-concept that N-cadherin inhibitors can be used as therapeutics to treat blood cancers. ADH-1 is a first-generation N-cadherin-targeted therapeutic discovered by Dr. Orest Blaschuk, founder of Zonula.

Zonula is currently developing superior second generation, small molecule N-cadherin inhibitors for use in the treatment of various diseases.

MONTREAL, March 4, 2022 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, notes the recent publication of a review article discussing the raison d’etre of the company (Front. Cell Dev. Biol. March 3, 2022) https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.866200

MONTREAL, December 1, 2020 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, notes the recent publication of a significant study further validating the importance of the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin in the development of brain cancer. N-cadherin has now emerged as a potential therapeutic target for three types of brain cancers: meningioma, neuroblastoma and glioblastoma multiforme. There are currently no adequate treatments for these cancers. Zonula’s N-cadherin inhibitors have the potential to fulfill the need for new brain cancer therapeutics.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the deadliest type of brain cancer. In a study published earlier this year, Zonula’s N-cadherin inhibitor was shown to kill glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 529:162-168) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.001 

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial tumor in children. In the year 2012, a study by a group of investigators at Ghent University Hospital in Belgium showed that an inhibitor of N-cadherin called ADH-1 kills neuroblastoma cells (PLoS ONE 7(2): e31206). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031206 ADH-1 was discovered by Dr. Orest Blaschuk, founder of Zonula and is a first generation N-cadherin-targeted therapeutic. 

Meningiomas arise from the lining of the central nervous system and are the most common primary intracranial tumors. Most recently, a study conducted by David Raleigh and his colleagues at the University of California San Francisco showed that tumorigenesis of meningioma cells was blocked in an organoid model system by ADH-1 (Nature communications 11:4803). 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18582-7

These studies underscore the importance of N-cadherin as a therapeutic target in brain cancers. Zonula’s next generation N-cadherin inhibitors can potentially be used to treat multiple types of brain cancer. 

MONTREAL, June 30, 2020 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases announces the publication of a study demonstrating that its lead small molecule, N-cadherin inhibitor kills glioblastoma multiforme cells (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 529:162-168) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.001 Glioblastoma multiforme is a lethal type of brain cancer. There is currently no adequate treatment for this disease. The study was conducted by Dr. Orest Blaschuk of Zonula in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Willerth of the University of Victoria. Dr. Willerth’s laboratory has developed a tumor model system for assessing the activity of potential anti-cancer drugs. The model system consists of glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells bioprinted with normal brain astrocytes and a biomaterial to mimic the tumor environment. Zonula’s N-cadherin inhibitor induced death of the glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells in this tumor model system indicating its potential for use as an anti-cancer drug. Targeting the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin represents a new approach to treating glioblastoma multiforme.

MONTREAL, May 12, 2020 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases announces allowance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of a continuation of United States Patent 10,494,345. The continuation describes the use of a small molecule capable of modulating cell adhesion to treat fibrosis-dependent diseases (United States Patent 10,647,672). In particular, this small molecule inhibits fibroblast adhesion by blocking the function of the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin. The small molecule can be used for the treatment or prevention of a variety of diseases including cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, restenosis, sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

MONTREAL, December 3, 2019 – Zonula Incorporated, a privately held biotechnology company developing therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases announces allowance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of its patent application describing small molecules capable of modulating cell adhesion (United States Patent 10,494,345). Methods of using these small molecules for enhancing or inhibiting cadherin-mediated functions are disclosed. The small molecules can be used for the treatment or prevention of a variety of diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. Compositions and devices comprising the small molecules are also disclosed. In addition, methods describing the synthesis of the small molecules are provided.