Boehringer targets ‘genome guardian’ protein for cancer collaboration
pharmafile | January 19, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | Boehringer, Cancer, Priaxon, genome
Boehringer Ingelheim has signed a worldwide deal with Munich-based pharma firm Priaxon to find novel treatments for cancer.
The firms will research and develop MDM2/p53 inhibitors, which have the potential to treat a number of different tumour types.
Loss of function in the tumour suppressor protein p53 through mutation is involved in about half of all human cancers.
Its role in controlling the cell cycle and monitoring the integrity of the genome has led it to be dubbed the “guardian of the genome”.
Since it can also be made inactive by the overexpression of MDM2 (murine double minute 2), disrupting the MDM2/p53 interaction is a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer cells with a wild-type p53.
The companies are pinning their hopes on products arising from this proving useful in patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancers for whom available treatment options are not satisfactory.
“We are delighted to work with Priaxon on novel targeted cancer therapies, to further broaden our oncology pipeline,” said Wolfgang Rettig, Boehringer’s corporate senior vice president of research.
“The discovery of p53 and its protein-protein interactions in a broad range of human cancers has been a milestone in cancer biology, yet finding potent inhibitors of these interactions has been challenging.”
The companies will work jointly to identify and advance candidates, and then Boehringer will drive the development and commercialisation of any potential cancer treatments.
“Using the strength of its unique drug discovery platforms, Priaxon was able to develop new promising MDM2/p53 inhibitors with high potency,” said Priaxon chief executive Juergen Kolb.
“Both Boehringer Ingelheim and Priaxon are looking forward to working together with the goal to develop a small molecule inhibitor for this protein-protein interaction of high potential.”
Boehringer will make undisclosed early payments to Priaxon, and the smaller company will then be eligible to receive 86 million euros in milestone payments, plus royalties.
Priaxon, which focuses on protein-protein interactions in oncology and other diseases, also works with NexusPharma in Philadelphia, and is part of Neuroallianz, a consortium working to develop products for different neurodegenerative diseases.
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