Giaconda
Encyclopedia
Giaconda is an Australian biotechnology
company headquartered in Sydney
. The company was founded in 2004 to commercialise a number of drug combinations developed by Professor Thomas Borody
, a Sydney-based gastroenterologist.
, which is located nine kilometres southwest of Beechworth in the northeastern part of the Australian state of Victoria
. That vineyard in turn derives its name from La Gioconda, which is a nickname for the Mona Lisa
of Leonardo da Vinci
. Giaconda uses a stylised version of the Mona Lisa in its company logo.
Giaconda's CEO is Mr Patrick McLean, a Canadian who was previously Senior Vice President European Commercial Operations of the Montreal
-based Axcan Pharma
. Giaconda is a public company whose stock is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange
under the stock code GIA. The company completed an Initial Public Offering
in September 2005, issuing 12 million shares at 50 Australian cents each. Thomas Borody currently owns around 70% of the stock.
The company went into voluntary administration in February 2011.
Myoconda, the company's lead product, is a combination of the antibiotics rifabutin
, clarithromycin
and clofazimine
. The combination is envisaged as a new treatment for Crohn's Disease
. Myoconda was first devised by Thomas Borody around 1997. The product has its origins in Borody's view that Crohn's disease is caused by infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, and that the disease can therefore be fought using drugs effective against the bacterium, such as those used in Myoconda. In 2000 Borody's organisation granted Pharmacia
an option to license the Myoconda patent in return for that company agreeing to conduct a Phase III clinical trial. The results of a Phase II
trial were published in 2002. The Phase III trial in 213 Crohn's patients was completed in September 2004 was results announced in 2005, however by this stage Pharmacia had merged with Pfizer
and the latter company had decided not to exercise its Myoconda option. A non-binding letter of intent was signed in April 2006 with Forest Laboratories
for the UK and Irish market. A second Phase III trial is planned, and Giaconda hopes to be able to launch the product in the United States in 2008.
Hepaconda is a product for the treatment of Hepatitis C
infection. The product, a combination of bezafibrate
with chenodeoxycholic acid
, was invented in 2001. Hepaconda is being developed as a 'rescue therapy' for Hepatitis C patients that have exhausted other treatment options. It is also envisaged that Hepaconda could be used to treat Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Giaconda had initially envisaged using Ursodeoxycholic acid as the bile acid in Hepaconda, but in 2006 the company shifted its attention to the use of chenodeoxycholic acid, having decided that its patent protection extended to all bile acid / fibrate combinations other than bezafibrate plus ursodoxycholic acid.
Heliconda, a product for the treatment of drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori
, is a combination of the antibiotics rifabutin
and amoxicillin
and the proton pump inhibitor
drug pantoprazole
. Heliconda was invented in 1998. In 2006 the results of a Phase II study of Heliconda in around 130 patients with resistant H. pylori infection was published. This study demonstrated an eradication of the infection in 90.9% of patients treated with Heliconda.
Ibaconda is a product for the treatment of Constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
. The product, invented by Thomas Borody in 1997, is a combination of the anti-inflammatory drug olsalazine
and the anti-gout
drug colchicine
.
Picoconda is a bowel preparation for use in gastrointestinal tract procedures. This product was invented by Thomas Borody in 1995. It represents an attempt to replace conventional bowel preparations, which are often considered unpalatable. The product contains a laxative
called sodium picosulphate, but capsulised and mixed with electrolytes so that it is palatable.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
company headquartered in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The company was founded in 2004 to commercialise a number of drug combinations developed by Professor Thomas Borody
Thomas Borody
Thomas Borody is an Australian gastoenterologist based in Sydney who is noted for his work in novel therapies for gastrointestinal disorders.-Life:Thomas Julius Borody was born in Poland and migrated to Australia with his family in 1960...
, a Sydney-based gastroenterologist.
History
Giaconda was named after the Giaconda Vineyard and WineryGiaconda Winery
Giaconda is an Australian winery in Beechworth, Victoria.- History :Throughout the 1970s Rick Kinzbrunner, a mechanical engineer, travelled and spent time with wineries in New Zealand, the USA and France including Stag's Leap, Simi Winery and the owners of Chateau Petrus, the Mouex group...
, which is located nine kilometres southwest of Beechworth in the northeastern part of the Australian state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. That vineyard in turn derives its name from La Gioconda, which is a nickname for the Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa is a portrait by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is a painting in oil on a poplar panel, completed circa 1503–1519...
of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
. Giaconda uses a stylised version of the Mona Lisa in its company logo.
Giaconda's CEO is Mr Patrick McLean, a Canadian who was previously Senior Vice President European Commercial Operations of the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based Axcan Pharma
Axcan Pharma
Axcan Pharma Inc. is a privately held, Birmingham, Alabama-based, specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad line of gastrointestinal products primarily in North America and Europe. Formerly traded publicly on NASDAQ, Axcan was acquired by TPG...
. Giaconda is a public company whose stock is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Stock Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
under the stock code GIA. The company completed an Initial Public Offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
in September 2005, issuing 12 million shares at 50 Australian cents each. Thomas Borody currently owns around 70% of the stock.
The company went into voluntary administration in February 2011.
Products
Giaconda is working on five products, all of which have been given names ending in '-conda'.Myoconda, the company's lead product, is a combination of the antibiotics rifabutin
Rifabutin
Rifabutin is a bactericidal antibiotic drug primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The drug is a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin S. Its effect is based on blocking the DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of the bacteria. It is effective against Gram-positive and some Gram-negative...
, clarithromycin
Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia , skin and skin structure infections...
and clofazimine
Clofazimine
Clofazimine is a fat-soluble riminophenazine dye used in combination with rifampicin and dapsone as multidrug therapy for the treatment of leprosy. It has been used investigationally in combination with other antimycobacterial drugs to treat Mycobacterium avium infections in AIDS patients and...
. The combination is envisaged as a new treatment for Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms...
. Myoconda was first devised by Thomas Borody around 1997. The product has its origins in Borody's view that Crohn's disease is caused by infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, and that the disease can therefore be fought using drugs effective against the bacterium, such as those used in Myoconda. In 2000 Borody's organisation granted Pharmacia
Pharmacia
Pharmacia was a pharmaceutical and biotechnological company in Sweden.-History:Pharmacia was founded in 1911 in Stockholm, Sweden by pharmacist Gustav Felix Grönfeldt at the Elgen Pharmacy. The company is named after the Greek word φαρμακεία, transliterated pharmakeia, which means 'sorcery'...
an option to license the Myoconda patent in return for that company agreeing to conduct a Phase III clinical trial. The results of a Phase II
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
trial were published in 2002. The Phase III trial in 213 Crohn's patients was completed in September 2004 was results announced in 2005, however by this stage Pharmacia had merged with Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
and the latter company had decided not to exercise its Myoconda option. A non-binding letter of intent was signed in April 2006 with Forest Laboratories
Forest Laboratories
Forest Laboratories is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City, USA. Its revenues for the year ended 31 March 2007 were US$3.4 billion. The company's research and development spending has grown rapidly in recent years, and as of 2007, approached almost a billion US dollars a year,...
for the UK and Irish market. A second Phase III trial is planned, and Giaconda hopes to be able to launch the product in the United States in 2008.
Hepaconda is a product for the treatment of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
infection. The product, a combination of bezafibrate
Bezafibrate
Bezafibrate is a fibrate drug used for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia. It helps to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood, and increase HDL.-Mode of action:...
with chenodeoxycholic acid
Chenodeoxycholic acid
Chenodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid. It occurs as a white crystalline substance insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol and acetic acid, with melting point at 165-167 °C. Salts of this carboxylic acid are called chenodeoxycholates...
, was invented in 2001. Hepaconda is being developed as a 'rescue therapy' for Hepatitis C patients that have exhausted other treatment options. It is also envisaged that Hepaconda could be used to treat Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary biliary cirrhosis, often abbreviated PBC, is an autoimmune disease of the liver marked by the slow progressive destruction of the small bile ducts within the liver. When these ducts are damaged, bile builds up in the liver and over time damages the tissue. This can lead to scarring,...
and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Giaconda had initially envisaged using Ursodeoxycholic acid as the bile acid in Hepaconda, but in 2006 the company shifted its attention to the use of chenodeoxycholic acid, having decided that its patent protection extended to all bile acid / fibrate combinations other than bezafibrate plus ursodoxycholic acid.
Heliconda, a product for the treatment of drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori , previously named Campylobacter pyloridis, is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach. It was identified in 1982 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who found that it was present in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, conditions that were...
, is a combination of the antibiotics rifabutin
Rifabutin
Rifabutin is a bactericidal antibiotic drug primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The drug is a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin S. Its effect is based on blocking the DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of the bacteria. It is effective against Gram-positive and some Gram-negative...
and amoxicillin
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin , formerly amoxycillin , and abbreviated amox, is a moderate-spectrum, bacteriolytic, β-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. It is usually the drug of choice within the class because it is better absorbed, following oral...
and the proton pump inhibitor
Proton pump inhibitor
Proton-pump inhibitors are a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production. They are the most potent inhibitors of acid secretion available today. The group followed and has largely superseded another group of pharmaceuticals with similar...
drug pantoprazole
Pantoprazole
Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor drug that inhibits gastric acid secretion.-Use:...
. Heliconda was invented in 1998. In 2006 the results of a Phase II study of Heliconda in around 130 patients with resistant H. pylori infection was published. This study demonstrated an eradication of the infection in 90.9% of patients treated with Heliconda.
Ibaconda is a product for the treatment of Constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...
. The product, invented by Thomas Borody in 1997, is a combination of the anti-inflammatory drug olsalazine
Olsalazine
Olsalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Ulcerative Colitis. It is sold under the name Dipentum.The chemical name is 3,3' -azobis salicylic acid...
and the anti-gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
drug colchicine
Colchicine
Colchicine is a medication used for gout. It is a toxic natural product and secondary metabolite, originally extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum...
.
Picoconda is a bowel preparation for use in gastrointestinal tract procedures. This product was invented by Thomas Borody in 1995. It represents an attempt to replace conventional bowel preparations, which are often considered unpalatable. The product contains a laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
called sodium picosulphate, but capsulised and mixed with electrolytes so that it is palatable.