Arch Biopartners Inc. (ACH-CNSX and FOIFF- US OTC markets) announced it has formed a new American subsidiary, Colorado Cancer Therapeutics (CCT) with leading University of Colorado chemists Lajos Gera and Robert Hodges. CCT also has acquired an option to enter into an exclusive license to commercialize specific pre-clinical, anti-cancer compounds invented at the University of Colorado and Emory University by Lajos Gera, Robert Hodges, Paul Bunn, John Stewart, Dan Chan, Leland Chung and Daqing Wu.

In pre-clinical studies involving mice, these compounds have shown efficacy in slowing the progression of pancreatic cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and prostate cancer.

As consideration for the option, Arch will pay roughly $12,000 to CU and will pay for patent costs incurred during the period of the option. As preconditions to exercising the option, Arch will perform further preclinical validation studies and assess the commercial viability of the technology. Arch will have until Jan. 1, 2012, to complete the assessment and exercise the option.

Arch recently engaged the chemistry services of Hodges and Gera as ongoing support for its three existing research platforms.

Gera is assistant research professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics and director of the core facility in peptide/protein chemistry within the program in structural biology and biophysics at the CU School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus.

Hodges is professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at the School of Medicine, where he also is director of the program in structural biology and biophysics and holds the John Stewart Endowed Chair in peptide chemistry. In 2002, he received the Vincent du Vigneaud Award from the American Peptide Society for outstanding achievements in peptide/protein research. In 2009, he received the Inventor of the Year Award at the University of Colorado Denver.