Cancer Research UK's commercial arm Cancer Research Technology (CRT) has collaborated with Danish drug discovery firm Nuevolution for the discovery of anti-cancer drug molecules targeting several key proteins.
The deal is aimed at identifying drug leads that block the activity of a number of cancer therapeutic targets, which could lead to the development of first-in-class novel treatments for cancer patients.
Under the deal, several diverse small molecules will be monitored using Nuevolution's proprietary Chemetics technology to identify drug candidate molecules which home in on selected targets.
The deal will see CRT offer expert information about the biology of the targets via Cancer Research UK's network of scientists.
First targets have already been approved by both the parties for entry into the collaboration.
Additionally, CRT through its internal Discovery Laboratories will offer drug discovery expertise including in-vitro screening assays and cellular activity assays for the target proteins, to select the molecules to develop as potential drugs.
Further pre-clinical development of any small molecules identified will form the basis of a separate deal to be agreed in the future between the two parties.
CRT Discovery Laboratories director of drug discovery Hamish Ryder said, "This important partnership combines CRT's drug discovery expertise and Cancer Research UK's strong academic research base with powerful technology from Nuevolution to enable 100s of millions of compounds to be rapidly assessed - which we hope one day will be a starting point for new options for cancer patients and increased survival."
