Epitherapeutics Aps announced today the receipt of funding from Novo A/S and SEED Capital Denmark to advance the discovery and development of new cancer treatments by leveraging breakthroughs in the field of Epigenetics.

Epigenetics describes the chemical modifications and mechanisms affecting the way DNA is packaged within the cell's nucleus. These processes are master regulators that enable gene expression to be turned on and off to maintain normal cellular function.

During recent years, it has become clear that epigenetic control mechanisms do not function properly in cancer and some metabolic diseases, including diabetes. The field of Epigenetics focuses on the discovery of novel therapeutics that targets these epigenetic mechanisms to selectively regulate their activity. In the case of cancer, this could result in new drugs that shut down deadly tumor growth by a novel, epigenetic mechanism of action.

"By founding Epitherapeutics, we hope to contribute to the development of new treatments against cancer. This project is in alignment with the research at BRIC where we try to elucidate the underlying epigenetic cause of different diseases and then apply our discoveries to develop new medicines that could improve the treatment options and outcome for patients with cancer and other diseases," said founder, Professor and Director of BRIC, Kristian Helin.

The scientific discoveries of Epitherapeutics have potential applications in a wide range of clinical indications, but the company's initial focus will be in oncology. Epitherapeutics' lead development program is focused on an enzyme involved in the regulation of androgen responsive genes for the treatment of prostate cancer. Subsequent developments may identify other potential clinical indications.

At present stage nobody really knows the full potential of Epigenetics, but no doubt that the perspectives are intriguing.