MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS: CELLMID
The Australian medical technologies sector has a reputation for innovation and quality. The Australian
companies in this industry are at the forefront of developing ground-breaking products to improve the
health and well-being of global communities. With significant investment in research and development
and high-value manufacturing – the industry is situated perfectly to take advantage of Australia’s
competitive strengths to export niche products to the global market.
Cellmid develops innovative diagnostics and
breakthrough therapies for cancer. Cellmid holds patents
related to the midkine protein. The company successfully
licensed midkine as a biomarker to three cancer diagnostic
companies and has several cancer diagnostic and
therapeutic collaborations currently in the pipeline.
Using Midkine to diagnose and treat cancers
Identifying and understanding molecules which stimulate tumor growth is important in diagnosing and
treating cancer. Cellmid is using Midkine (MK) to develop novel therapies and diagnostics test for a
number of cancers.
MK is a protein which promotes tumor growth, spread and drug resistance. MK is elevated in many types
of cancer and often very early in the disease. MK is easily detected and measured in blood, making noninvasive testing feasible. Together these properties make MK a uniquely powerful cancer diagnostic tool,
and a potentially breakthrough therapeutic target in multiple cancer types.
Cellmid has recently completed a four year preclinical program and will be ready to enter clinical trials
with its anti-MK antibody in 2015. Cellmid has also signed a collaboration which will allow MK to be
combined with other therapeutics in an innovative single drug format (tribody). This technology will allow
delivery of multiple therapies (MK and other drugs) within a cost effective single drug to patients,
improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing treatment costs.
Benefits of collaboration
Cellmid has highlighted three key factors which have contributed to its success.
Using existing competitively priced, world class commercial solutions within Australia:
After developing the MK-ELISA, a testing kit for MK, Cellmid searched globally for a suitable
manufacturer. Cellmid discovered AsureQuality in Melbourne. The MK-ELISA is now manufactured by
AsureQuality in its Good Manufacturing Practice, ISO13485 accredited facility, at a globally competitive
cost. AsureQuality's considerable in-house scientific and technical expertise has allowed further
innovation of the product.
Contracting an Australian academic institution for commercialisation:
Cellmid needed to source cost-effective, large scale antibody production. This was possible through the
University of Queensland’s commercially focussed Australian Institute of Bioengineering &
Nanotechnology (AIBN). Through AIBN, Cellmid has been able to access world-class bio-manufacturing
at an affordable cost. The antibodies manufactured by AIBN have underpinned Cellmid's success in both
diagnostics and therapeutics.
Utilising local research capabilities for scientific validation of technology:
By collaborating with academic groups at Westmead Hospital, Cellmid has been able to access a worldleading cancer diagnostic program for testing the use of both MK as cancer biomarker and anti-MK
antibodies. In this way Cellmid was able to independently validate the company’s discovery science
rapidly and cheaply.
Pictured: The MK-ELISA kit, used to test for MK.
This case study is based on information from Cellmid and
was developed with the assistance of AusBiotech.
For further information, visit www.cellmid.com.au.