On April 24, 2010 CRT reported that in recent months real proof of success of our cutting edge technology transfer and Drug Discovery capabilities has come from major industry partnerships (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 29, 2010, View Source [SID1234523527]). In February 2010, they teamed up with biopharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, in a multi project alliance to create ‘cancer metabolism drugs’. A month later, they announced an exclusive agreement with international biotechnology company Cephalon, to collaborate on the development of small molecule inhibitors.

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Set up as a major strategic initiative by CRT, our laboratories form a fully integrated part of Cancer Research UK’s long-term Drug Discovery strategy. The CRT Discovery Laboratories (CRT-DL) typically focus on both small molecule and biological therapeutics, with the view to generating compelling data packages for novel targets. The CRT-DL works closely with the originating academics, bringing drug discovery disciplines to bear to discover novel prototype therapeutics that are used to confirm target validation and provide a platform for development candidate identification with a pharmaceutical industry partner.

These relationships represent a significant milestone in the development and success of the CRT-DL and are a positive affirmation from industry that CRT is at the forefront of advancing cancer discoveries.

Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive said: "Investing in partnership with pharmaceutical companies in the discovery and development of new cancer drugs will help us to accelerate progress towards our goal of finding new treatments for cancer patients. We hope these alliances will result in a number of new weapons in our fight to beat cancer."

CRT was the first technology transfer organisation to establish a substantial in-house drug discovery capability. Our unique model brings together the strengths of academic exploration of novel biology with the rigor of our industrially-sourced drug discovery team. In the case of the Cephalon partnership, Cancer Research UK funded researchers Professors Peter Parker and Neil McDonald, working within the London Research Institute has been an integral part of the target validation and development of the small molecule inhibitors.

Being able to ‘matchmake’ promising hot areas of cancer research from our leading translational researchers across the UK with the interests of biotechnology companies puts CRT and our Discovery Laboratories at the centre of novel strategic alliances with industry. Over the coming year, CRT will explore similar possible alliances in other promising areas of cancer biology.

On April 22, 2010 Cancer Research Technology (CRT) – Cancer Research UK’s development and commercialisation arm reported it has teamed up with The University of Auckland to advance the discovery of new molecular targeted compounds for the treatment of leukaemia (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 22, 2010, View Source [SID1234523337]).

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Scientists based at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre and CRT’s Discovery Laboratories in London and Cambridge will focus on developing a treatment that will target an enzyme that has been linked to the growth and development of leukaemia cells.

The target enzyme’s role in leukaemia was discovered by scientists at the University of Birmingham, funded by the charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Collaborative effort between CRT’s Discovery Laboratories and Dr Christopher Bunce, whose group made the discovery, has led to the identification of a series of compounds that will form the basis of this UK/NZ collaboration.

Work at The University of Auckland is supported by a pre-seed investment from Auckland UniServices Ltd, the commercial research and knowledge transfer company of the University. CRT retains exclusive rights to commercialise the intellectual property arising from this deal.

Dr Phil L’Huillier, CRT’s director of business management said: "This exciting partnership exemplifies CRT’s expertise in ‘matchmaking’ promising areas of cancer research with expert drug discovery teams across the globe. By establishing partnerships with groups with complementary expertise, CRT aims to advance discovery of novel treatments for cancer."

Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow which is characterised by uncontrolled growth of blood cells, usually white blood cells. The term leukaemia covers a spectrum of diseases that affects around 7,000 people in the UK and 600 people in New Zealand each year.

Professor Bill Denny, co-director of the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences said: "Growing evidence is showing that targeting this important enzyme has the potential to lead us to new treatments for leukaemia and potentially other cancers, so we are extremely excited to be taking the programme forward. The first step will be to generate improved compounds which could ultimately move into preclinical development."

Dr Hamish Ryder, CRT’s director of drug discovery, said: "We’ve identified several promising series of compounds which, in combination with the strong therapeutic rationale established at the University of Birmingham, make for a very exciting project. We look forward to working with the drug discovery team at The University of Auckland to progress these compounds into a potential therapy for cancer."

On March 19, 2010 Cancer Research Technology (CRT) reported an exclusive agreement with Cephalon, Inc., an international biotechnology company, to collaborate on the development of small molecule inhibitors (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, MAR 19, 2010, View Source [SID1234523338]). These molecules will target specific members of the Protein Kinase C superfamily of cell signalling proteins – which have been shown to be associated with the development of cancer.

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The collaborative development programme will progress CRT’s promising lead compounds through to the selection of pre-clinical candidate molecules. Under the terms of the agreement CRT will be entitled to significant upfront and milestone payments, and upon achievement of specific product sales targets, a double-digit royalty rate.

These small molecule inhibitors will target specific variants – called isoforms – of the Protein Kinase C family. The isoforms at the centre of the collaboration have been strongly implicated in the development of cancer. Cancer Research UK-funded researchers Professors Peter Parker and Neil McDonald, working within its world class London Research Institute, significantly contributed to the structural biology of these targets and their validation as important players in cancer cell growth and spread.

New chemical compounds have been rapidly progressed towards lead candidates using CRT Discovery Laboratories drug screening, specialist cancer biology and medicinal chemistry expertise. The aim of this cross-discipline, two-centre collaboration, is to generate pre-clinical candidate molecules for development by Cephalon into new drug therapies for cancer patients.

Cephalon will contribute substantial resources which will boost existing investment by Cancer Research UK, and allow quicker translation of potential drugs that may benefit cancer patients. The work will take place at CRT’s Discovery Laboratories in London and Cephalon’s research and development facility in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Dr Keith Blundy, chief executive of Cancer Research Technology, said: "The agreement with Cephalon is a major milestone for CRT’s Discovery Laboratories being the first of its small molecule discovery programmes to partner with an international biopharmaceutical company. This unique collaboration will enable us to drive forward the development of potential innovative cancer medicines."

Dr. John Mallamo, Vice President of Worldwide Chemical R&D at Cephalon said: "This collaboration between Cephalon and CRT creates a critical mass of biology and chemistry expertise, capable of quickly advancing the high quality lead series CRT has identified, and provides Cephalon with an expanded oncology discovery portfolio. Cephalon is very pleased to be able to join forces with CRT to discover and develop first-in-class therapies in our fight against cancer."

On March 15, 2010 Vernalis plc (LSE: VER) reported the achievement of a milestone under the company’s collaboration with Novartis on the oncology target Hsp90 (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, MAR 15, 2010, View Source [SID1234523528]). The $3 million milestone is triggered by the first dosing in a Phase II proof of concept clinical trial of AUY-922, an Hsp90 inhibitor, in a range of solid tumours.

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Ian Garland, CEO of Vernalis said "We are delighted that our programme with Novartis has progressed into Phase II and we look forward to the results of the current Phase II proof of concept study which Novartis has indicated are targeted for 2010".

Visit the Vernalis website here.

On March 10, 2010 Transgene S.A. (Euronext Paris: FR0005175080) reported the signing of an exclusive option agreement with Novartis for the development and commercialisation of Transgene’s targeted immunotherapy product, TG4010 (MVA-MUC1-IL2), for the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other potential cancer indications (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, MAR 10, 2010, View Source [SID1234523529]).

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