Study results of genes regulated by ERB published in Journal of Biological Chemistry

Bionovo Inc. (Nasdaq: BNVI) today announced the publication of results from a study demonstrating the three distinct classes of genes regulated by estrogen receptor beta (ERB). The results are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. This is an important discovery for future development of selective drugs regulating this pathway.

"Finding ways to prevent breast cancer requires a greater understanding of how the two estrogen receptors work.  When ERa is activated by estrogens it results in an increased risk for breast and uterine cancer. The other estrogen receptor, ERB, counteracts the cancer promoting property of ERa in breast cancer cells suggesting that drugs that activate ERB might prevent cancers," said Dr. Dale Leitman, M.D., Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley and Bionovo's Scientific Advisory Board Member. "This study identifies genes that are regulated by ERB. We found these genes are regulated by a different mechanism than ERa. These results are important step towards discovering ERB selective compounds that may regulate genes that block the cancer promoting effects of ERa."

Dr. Leitman continued, "Estrogens have been used extensively to treat various indications in women's health including menopausal symptoms. Unfortunately estrogens also result in significant increased risk for cancer, stroke and clotting events. Estrogen's effect is mediated by interacting with both estrogen receptors and regulating genes along both receptors' paths. Our current study shows that the presence of estrogen is obligatory for regulating genes with ERa but it is not required for ERB. The result is that ERB regulates three classes of genes. The first class is genes regulated by ERB alone, the second is genes regulated by ERB and estrogen and the third class is genes regulated by both ERB alone and ERB and estrogen. We also show that the mechanism involved is not singular and involves different cellular molecules critical for this selectivity. By determining how ERB regulates genes distinct from ERa it should become possible to target drugs that regulate only a subset of genes, which would be more selective and likely safer than the current estrogens used clinically that regulate both ERa and ERB similarly."  

"Bionovo's mission to discover and develop unique drugs for women's health and cancer is further enriched by the discovery of the unique classes of genes regulated by ERB. We now know we can selectively regulate via the ERB genes similar to estrogen as well as enhance the activity of genes regulated independently by ERB. This opens the door for new cancer preventive drugs and inflammatory diseases afflicting women far more than men. It also further elucidates the potential need for multiple compounds pharmacologically causing gene activation of various classes of genes along a single path."