CRT announces partnership with Cephalon to develop a new class of anti-cancer drugs

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.

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.”
 

About Protein Kinase C (PKC) 

PKC is a superfamily of proteins that play a pivotal role in cell  signalling – and control of the cells most important processes including  growth and division. PKC controls the activity of other important  proteins by switching them on or off – they do this by adding phosphate  groups at strategic points on target proteins. There are a number of  variations between this family of proteins – called isoforms.

About the Principal Scientists 

Peter Parker is a Principal Scientist at Cancer Research UK’s London  Research Institute, and also Professor of Cancer Studies at King’s  College London.  Neil McDonald is a Principal Scientist at the London  Research Institute and also Professor of Crystallography at Birkbeck  college.