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SMALL MOLECULE PROGRAM

Dendreon has a small molecule program in development. Small molecules are a diverse group of natural and synthetic substances that generally have a low molecular weight and are either isolated from natural sources such as plants, fungi or microbes or synthesized by organic chemistry. Most conventional pharmaceuticals, such as aspirin, penicillin and chemotherapeutics, are small molecules.

TRPM8 (also known as TRPP8), was identified through in-house efforts. It is a calcium ion channel that is triggered by cold temperatures, menthol, and other small molecule agonists. TRPM8 belongs to the melastatin subfamily of TRP proteins. Calcium ions mediate key cellular functions, and activation of TRPM8 channels leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis) in TRPM8-expressing cells.

In normal human tissues, TRPM8 is expressed predominantly in the prostate, ProstateA gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate surrounds the part of the urethra (the tube that empties the bladder) just below the bladder, and produces a fluid that forms part of the semen.Close a gland in the male reproductive system. It is over-expressed in prostate hyperplasia and multiple types of cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. Dendreon has synthesized small molecule agonists, including D3263, which activate the TRPM8 ion channel and induce cell death (apoptosis). The lead molecule, D3263, is in a Phase 1 clinical trial for clinical evaluation in cancer CancerCancer develops when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells grow, divide, and die. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells often travel to other body parts where they grow and replace normal tissue. This spreading process is called metastasis. When cancer spreads or metastasizes, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is still prostate cancer, not bone cancer. Some cancers, such as blood cancers, do not form a tumor. Not all tumors are cancer. A tumor that is not cancer is called benign and does not grow and spread the way cancer does.Closepatients.