Cyclacel advances novel compound as possible cancer treatment

An aurora kinase inhibitor, CYC116, is a small molecule investigational drug, which has previously demonstrated anticancer activity after oral administration in both hematological and solid tumor models. The company plans to file an investigational new drug application for CYC116 with the FDA in 2006.

CYC116, the third orally-available Cyclacel drug to enter development, was selected from over a hundred molecules synthesized by the company’s scientists. CYC116 and selected backup compounds demonstrated anticancer activity in solid tumor and hematological cancer models with a mechanism consistent with inhibition of aurora kinase.

Aurora kinases are enzymes that help dividing cells share their materials among two daughter cells. In many people with cancer aurora kinase malfunctions and normal control of cell division is lost resulting in abnormal growth. Small molecule drugs that inhibit aurora kinase may slow down the growth of cancer cells and lead to their death by apoptosis.

“As important regulators of both genomic integrity and cell cycle progression in cancer cells the aurora kinases represent an attractive target for anticancer drug development,” said Professor David Glover, chief scientist of Cyclacel’s Polgen Division, who discovered the aurora and other mitotic kinases.