Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF)

The present Competitive Intelligence Report about Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) provides a competitor evaluation in the field of investigational small molecules and RNA inhibiting HIF-1alpha or HIF-2 for treatment of cancer or acting as HIF agonists to induce angiogenesis as of April 2009.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a key regulator of angiogenic and glucose metabolism processes utilised by tumour cells for survival and growth under hypoxic conditions. While HIF-1a protein is found in a wide variety of human primary tumors, it is only produced at very low levels in normal tissue. Because of the important role that HIF-1a plays in regulating the response of growing tumors to hypoxia, the protein is expected to have substantial value as a target for therapeutic intervention. The protein is a key regulator of a large number of genes important in cancer biology, including genes that regulate angiogenesis, cell metabolism, cell proliferation, cell death (apoptosis) and cell invasion. The first molecules inhibiting HIF-1alpha have entered clinical development and others are to follow shortly including small molecules and RNA interfering agents.

The report includes a compilation of current active projects in research and development of HIF targeting small molecules, RNA or DNA. In addition, the report lists company-specific R&D pipelines of HIF targeting molecules.

Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:

• Drug Codes,
• Target / Mechanism of Action,
• Class of Compound,
• Company,
• Product Category,
• Indication,
• R&D Stage and
• additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information.