Cancer Research Technology to Present Discovery Updates at BioEurope 2006
London, UK 6th November 2006 – Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the oncology-focused development and commercialisation company, today announce that Phil L’Huillier, the Director of Business Management, will present at the BioEurope 2006 Annual International Partnering Conference. Dr L’Huillier will introduce two of CRT’s collaborative discovery programmes: Protein Kinase D (PKD) and Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF). The presentation will take place on Wednesday 8th November at 10.45 CET in Düsseldorf.
MSF is an exciting new anti-angiogenic therapeutic antibody programme that CRT has undertaken in collaboration with the University of Dundee. Within the collaboration, a panel of highly specific MSF function-neutralising monoclonal antibodies have been generated. These antibodies block growth of blood vessels ex vivo and invasion in vitro. Initial progress in this programme is extremely encouraging and CRT expects to have further data within the next three months. In addition, the University of Dundee is investigating the potential of MSF as a prognostic biomarker by correlating MSF expression with patient survival in a large cohort of breast cancer tissues.
PKD is a promising novel anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic target that is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion in a variety of cancers. To date, several series of compounds have been identified and developed from a screen of CRT’s compound library. Two lead series have been the subject of an intense hit-to-lead and lead optimisation programme. These series include compounds with IC50s of <1 nM, that show good selectivity, solubility, cell permeability and have encouraging CYP450 inhibition and microsomal stability profiles. Cell based studies have shown initial proof of concept and the lead compounds are currently undergoing pharmacokinetic studies in advance of proof of efficacy studies.
CRT’s Development Laboratories collaborate with research institutes worldwide to build on exploratory academic research and create attractive commercial opportunities. Both small molecule and biological therapeutic projects are taken from the discovery stage through to in vivo proof of concept studies. Currently, CRT are working on more than 15 ‘in-house’ small molecule and biotherapeutic discovery projects. Such R&D programmes are pivotal for the progression of discoveries originating from academic cancer research and have previously resulted in the completion of licenses with major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
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For more information:
Cancer Research Technology Limited
Dr Nick Wells, Head of Marketing +44 207 269 3640
nwells@CancerTechnology.com
Notes to Editors
About Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) is an oncology-focused development and commercialisation company that realises cancer patient benefit from publicly- funded research worldwide. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists, their institutes and funding bodies to protect, develop and commercialise oncology-related discoveries. CRT is wholly owned by Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. Further information about CRT can be found at www.CancerTechnology.com.
About Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is Europe's leading cancer charity, dedicated to research into the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer. The charity supports the work of 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses in over 80 academic centres across the UK, with an annual scientific spend of more than £257 million. Cancer Research UK is the European leader in the development of novel anti-cancer treatments; from their discovery at the laboratory bench to early clinical trials in cancer patients. Further information about Cancer Research UK can be found at www.cancerresearchuk.org.
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