TUCSON, Ariz., August 22, 2024 – Critical Path Institute’s (C-Path) Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA) proudly announced today a $250,000 grant award to Peter Wipf, Ph.D., a distinguished researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Chemistry, and his colleagues Dr. Zhou Wang, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Chair in Urological Research, Department of Urology, and Dr. Joel B. Nelson, the Frederic N. Schwentker Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology. This funding will support their pioneering research aimed at developing a novel small-molecule drug to combat castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in people assigned male at birth in the United States, claiming over 30,000 lives annually. While first line therapy is effective initially, many patients experience relapse due to the reactivation of the androgen receptor (AR). Drs. Nelson, Wang and Wipf’s innovative approach targets a particular constitutively active variant of AR that plays an important role in this reactivated state drug-resistant relapse.
“C-Path’s TRxA is committed to funding research that addresses significant medical challenges, and Drs. Nelson, Wang and Wipf’s project epitomizes this mission,” said TRxA Executive Director Maaike Everts, Ph.D. “We are enthusiastic about the potential impact of this research on the treatment of CRPC and the improvement of patient outcomes. Importantly, this highly collaborative program combines medicinal chemistry, cancer biology, and the translational and clinical expertise to drive this project to clinical solutions for the patients.”
“We are honored to receive this support from C-Path’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator,” said Dr. Peter Wipf. “Our goal is to develop a therapeutic that not only inhibits cancer growth but also improves survival rates for patients who have relapsed after initial treatments. This funding is crucial for advancing our research and moving closer to a solution for CRPC.”
TRxA’s support for Drs. Nelson, Wang and Wipf’s research highlights C-Path’s dedication to advancing innovative solutions that accelerate the development of therapies for people with unmet medical needs. For more information about C-Path and TRxA, visit c-path.org/trxa.
About Critical Path Institute
Critical Path Institute (C-Path) is an independent, nonprofit established in 2005 as a public-private partnership, in response to the FDA’s Critical Path Initiative. C-Path’s mission is to lead collaborations that advance better treatments for people worldwide. Globally recognized as a pioneer in accelerating drug development, C-Path has established numerous international consortia, programs and initiatives that currently include more than 1,600 scientists and representatives from government and regulatory agencies, academia, patient organizations, disease foundations and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. With dedicated team members located throughout the world, C-Path’s global headquarters is located in Tucson, Arizona and C-Path’s Europe subsidiary is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. For more information, visit c-path.org.
About TRxA
Critical Path Institute’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA) is a global drug accelerator focused on supporting academic scientists in advancing novel therapeutics from university-based labs to drug development pipelines of pharmaceutical companies and, ultimately, the clinic. As a non-profit neutral convener of patient groups, academia, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies, C-Path brings a breadth of scientific and drug development planning not available in other accelerator programs. TRxA is uniquely situated to leverage the expertise available through C-Path’s >20 disease-based consortia, as well as regulatory expertise and project management, to empower academic investigators to succeed in bringing safe and effective treatments to patients. For more information, visit c-path.org/trxa or email trxa@c-path.org.
Contacts:
Roxan Triolo Olivas
C-Path
520-954-1634
Rolivas@c-path.org
Kissy Black
C-Path
615.310.1894
kblack@c-path.org