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Cancer Research UK and Astex Therapeutics join forces to develop new anti-cancer treatment

Press release - 29 September 2008

Cancer Research UK, Cancer Research Technology (CRT) - the charity's development and commercialisation arm - and Astex Therapeutics Limited announced today that they have agreed to take into development a potential new anti-cancer treatment.

AT13148 - a protein kinase B inhibitor - is the second drug to enter the charity's Clinical Development Partnerships (CDP) programme. This deal follows the first CDP agreement with AstraZeneca in May 2008.

Dr Victoria John, head of clinical partnerships at Cancer Research UK, said: "We're very excited to be entering this deal with Astex Therapeutics. This agent has been identified as a promising development candidate, which has the potential to impact on a wide range of cancers. Entering into this partnership is an excellent example of how the charity can work with industry to help bring much needed new treatments to cancer patients."

This work will be funded primarily by Cancer Research UK with the charity receiving a share of any revenues including a royalty on sales. The molecule was originally discovered by scientists on the PKB drug discovery programme, a collaboration between Astex Therapeutics, CRT and The Institute of Cancer Research, which ran from 2003 through to 2006.

For the full press release see Cancer Research UK News & Press Releases