On June 4, 2020 AmorChem II L.P. ("AmorChem") reported the closing of a new transaction with McGill University ("McGill"), focusing on the work of Dr. Sidong Huang and his collaborator, Dr. Martin Schmeing, from the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (Press release, Amorchem, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560845]). The project, financed by AmorChem, will focus on the identification of small molecules to treat small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type ("SCCOHT").
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"We were impressed by the sophisticated screening campaigns utilized by Dr. Huang to uncover synthetic lethal targets in various cancers. His focus on the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex was particularly interesting, as it frequently incurs inactivating mutations and deletions in various components of the complex, which are themselves not druggable. His screen identified targets, such as SL2, that expose the vulnerabilities of such mutations and deletions indirectly. SL2 represents an exciting and novel mitochondrial target to treat certain SMARCA4-deficient cancers," says Kevin McBride, Chief Scientific Officer and Partner at AmorChem.
Through this investment, the forces of NuChem Therapeutics inc. ("NuChem") will join with those of the McGill team to identify and optimise small molecule inhibitors of SL2. AmorChem collaborations with NuChem have been successful in the past and the combination of strong medicinal chemistry and assay development teams with a strong functional genomics group should be very positive for the outcome of this project.
"SCCOHT is an aggressive, rare form of ovarian cancer which affects predominantly women in their 20s. With 65% of patients dying within two years, this severe disease represents a definite unmet medical need. If the usefulness of targeting SL2 with small molecules can be proven in SCCOHT, we believe it will also be possible to extend the use of its inhibitors to other oncology indications, such as non-small cell lung cancer," says Elizabeth Douville, Managing Partner at AmorChem.
"I would like to thank AmorChem and NuChem for their investment in Dr. Huang’s work," says Sylvain Coulombe, Associate Vice-Principal, Innovation and Partnerships (I+P), McGill University. "Helping move ground-breaking research from the lab to the clinic – particularly in the service of treating rare, devastating diseases – demonstrates the power of diverse partners working toward a common goal. That is why supporting and promoting research with strong potential for commercialization is and will remain at the core of our mission in I+P and at McGill."