In 2006, the Brussels Region set up ‘booster programmes’ in order to fund interuniversity research projects – over a period of 3 years, and renewable for 3 years – which offer the potential of developing into a business opportunity in the medium-term. These projects are based on specific themes that are of interest to the Region and predefined by the latter (ICT in 2006, health in 2007, environment in 2008).

The NATHYPOX project, co-ordinated by Professor O. Feron, Associate Professor and Head of Research of the National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) at the pharmacotherapy laboratory (FATH) at the UCL, is one of the two projects co-ordinated by the UCL, the latter having obtained funding within the framework of the Brussels-based booster programme focused on health: 4 researchers and 1 technician will be funded for a period of 3 years as part of this programme.

The project partners are Professor J. Quetin-Leclercq, Full Professor at the UCL chemical and physico-chemical analysis unit of drugs and pharmacognosia (CHAM), Professor O. Riant, Professor at the UCL organic and medicinal chemistry unit (CHOM), as well as Professor R. Kiss, Professor at the ULB toxicology unit.

The Nathypox project relates to the identification and the development of new anti-angiogenic molecules of natural origin selected on the basis of their efficacy in hypoxic conditions.

Nowadays, inhibiting angiogenesis (i.e. the formation of new blood vessels starting from pre-existing blood vessels) is in fact recognised as a new method of treating cancer.

In order to prevent side-effects, the Nathypox project intends to increase selectivity in favour of tumoral vascularisation by incorporating the ‘hypoxia’ parameter (i.e. reduction in the concentration of oxygen in the blood) into the implementation of the technological platform dedicated to the identification of anti-angiogenic substances. Indeed, hypoxia, and more particularly intermittent hypoxia, is recognised as a major characteristic in the majority of tumours. Hypoxia promotes angiogenesis and is responsible for the increased resistance of tumours to anticancer treatments. Therefore, the introduction of the hypoxia concept in cellular models reproducing the angiogenic process in vitro should make it possible to select molecules active against the endothelial cells found in most healthy tissues. Their therapeutic efficacy will subsequently be demonstrated in vivo.

The new compounds having anti-angiogenic potential will be sourced from natural plant extracts.

The activity assessments guiding the fractioning, the purification and the isolation of the active substances will be performed on a technological platform developed partly within the framework of the Brussels-based programme, for the purpose of identifying new ‘leading’ compounds.

Chemically generating new categories of anti-angiogenic molecules (synthesis or hemisynthesis) will be performed in parallel in order to identify new categories of patentable anti-angiogenic molecules.

Furthermore, the method of administration referred to as ‘metronomic’ (i.e. based on the frequent administration of low doses of the anti-angiogenic compound) will also form the subject of a study. This method of administration in effect generates more powerful anti-angiogenic activity than when the same molecule is administered at the maximum tolerated dose.

In summary, the objectives of this research programme are two-fold: to implement a technological platform to identify new tumour-selective anti-angiogenic molecules and to identify compounds derived from natural extracts and demonstrating anti-angiogenic properties at low or non-cytotoxic concentrations for the remainder of the organism.

In the long term, the partners of the Nathypox project envisage developing a spin-off with the aim of identifying new categories of anti-cancer drugs (anti-angiogenic) and to take the most promising molecules up to clinical phase I. In addition, the implementation of the technological platform for ‘screening’ the anti-cancer compounds will make it possible to develop and offer this service to third parties.