World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated every 10 November and highlights the important role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.
In 2020, at the time when the global COVID-19 pandemic has further demonstrated the critical role of science in addressing global challenges, the focus is on Science for and with Society.
To celebrate 2020 World Science Day for Peace and Development, we introduce you to Solubility client Dr Deanne Greenwood, Vice President, Business Development & Intellectual Property for Patrys Limited who shares insights into her science career from benchside to business and tells us about the work being undertaken at Patrys.
Meet Dr Deanne Greenwood, Vice President, Business Development & Intellectual Property for Patrys Limited
Patrys is a Melbourne based publicly-listed biotech company on the ASX. Patrys is committed to the development and commercialisation of novel antibody technologies for oncology and aims to revolutionise patient outcomes across a range of hard-to-treat cancers. Patrys achieves this through in-licensing intellectual property (IP) rights and also by having an active IP strategy in place to protect its various patent families.
What is your current role and how did your career lead you to it?
My current role is Vice President, Business Development & Intellectual Property for Patrys Limited where I focus on BD, licensing and IP activities. I started my career as an academic working in the areas of vaccine development and immunology and not long after completing my PhD embarked on an MBA. Through an introduction with a mutual colleague I was introduced to Patrys in 2008 and made the transition from bench to business. I’ve now been with Patrys for over 10 years in various roles.
What does World Science Day mean to you?
I don’t always keep track of “World” days, but I was interested to learn that 10 November is World Science day for Peace and Development and highlights the important role of science in society. In this current COVID world the importance of science has really become more widely understood which I think is fantastic. The search for a COVID-19 vaccine has really underscored the importance and relevance of science in our every day lives. Let’s hope the spotlight and interest around scientific discoveries stay in the greater population mindset beyond this current pandemic.
How do you distinguish yourself/your brand from your competitors?
The technology Patrys is commercialising comes from research conducted at Yale University where they identified a suite of circulating autoantibodies (Deoxymab platform) from patients with lupus which pass the cell membrane and enter the cell nucleus. We have now improved our lead candidate antibody by generating a humanized fragment, named PAT-DX1. The exciting and unique features of PAT-DX1 are the ability for this antibody to penetrate the blood-brain-barrier, be attracted to the cancer cells due the release of DNA from dead or dying cells, additional ability to enter the cell nucleus with relatively harmless effects to normal cells, and lastly promote cancer cell death by disrupting DNA repair in cells that already have compromised DNA repair process.
In simple terms, PAT-DX1 blocks DNA repair and kills cancer cells with a range of DNA Damage Response (DDR) mutations such as BRCA2 and PTEN. The Deoxymab platform offers multiple therapeutic approaches including single agent, combination therapies and targeted therapies such as delivery of payload to cancers cells and the cell nucleus. We’re really excited to progress this technology to the clinic in 2022.
In your current role what’s the best business decision you’ve made?
Taking the time to understand my own personal style and tendencies when it comes to meeting, connecting and working with both peers and collaborators. Collaboration is vital in this industry and willingness to work with other parties provides access to technology and resources that can help to develop assets further to the benefit of shareholders.
Perhaps more of a career decision, but seeking flexibility to generate work-life balance with a young family has also been very important.
Solubility has assisted Patrys Limited with legal issues since 2014 and is delighted to continue to assist Patrys as it aims to revolutionise patient outcomes across a range of hard-to-treat cancers.
You can connect with Dr Deanne Greenwood here and learn more about Patrys here or click here to get in touch with our team at Solubility. Also you can follow Solubility on LinkedIn and Solubility on twitter.
We look forward to seeing you again for some more Everyday IP.
Cover image: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Article image: Photo by Science in HD on Unsplash