Lorus Therapeutics has signed a collaboration agreement with Brock University to develop new anticancer drugs based on chemical derivatives of the natural compound pancratistatin.?
As part of the collaboration,Lorus will test the anticancer activity and drug-like properties of pancratistatin derivatives synthesized by Dr.Tomas Hudlicky''s research group at Brock University.
Lorus will bear 50%of total expenses in the form of cash or in-kind towards the project as well as collectively share with Brock University in new intellectual property created from the collaboration.
The partnership has been funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario''s Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative.
Lorus Therapeutics president and CEO Aiping Young said Tomas and his group have done some ground-breaking work and Lorus will join the effort in developing novel derivatives of pancratistatin,which may be a new approach to cancer treatment.
Brock University innovation and commercialization director John Wilson said,"Professor Hudlicky has an impressive track record commercialising his scientific discoveries,and we are very happy that this new partnership is with Lorus,an innovative company also located in Ontario."
Professor Tomas Hudlicky's laboratory has discovered and developed potent synthetic derivatives of pancratistatin and 7-deoxypancratistatin,which have proven active against several cancer cell lines,causing cancer cell killing without affecting healthy cells.
Pancratistatin is a naturally occurring anti-tumor agent isolated from the Amaryllidaceae family of plants.
