Sareum, ICR, CRT Develop New Molecules For Cancer Therapies

CHK1 is a key component of a biochemical pathway responsible for reducing the effectiveness of traditional cancer therapeutics such as chemotherapy. The collaboration has developed novel, potent and selective CHK1 inhibitors that, in combination with cancer chemotherapeutics gemcitabine (Gemzar) or irinotecan (Campto), reduce tumour growth in preclinical models when compared to the chemotherapeutic alone.

ICR, Sareum and CRT are encouraged with the recent progress made by the collaboration, which has been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and believe this will assist in discussions with potential licensing partners.

Paul Workman, director of Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at ICR, said: “These are very exciting times in cancer drug development. This collaboration has brought together expertise and experience at the ICR and Sareum in the discovery of molecularly targeted anticancer agents, and has effectively demonstrated the potential to use existing drugs more effectively and hence improve cancer management.”

Tim Mitchell, CEO of Sareum, said: “This publication exemplifies the success of the collaboration and the quality of research by the scientists involved. I look forward to discussing these latest advances with potential licensing partners.”

Keith Blundy, CEO of CRT, said: “This partnership further exemplifies CRT’s role in bringing benefit to cancer patients by forming partnerships between cancer researchers and industry to accelerate the development of new therapies. Sareum’s technologies and the expertise of ICR have added significantly to the rate of progress of this programme.”