Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) reports today that it has
entered into a license agreement for novel panRAF kinase inhibitors
with a consortium of organizations including The Institute of
Cancer Research, London, Cancer Research Technology, the Wellcome
Trust and The University of Manchester.
The agreement grants Basilea exclusive worldwide rights to
develop, manufacture and commercialize novel panRAF kinase
inhibitors which originate from research at The Institute of Cancer
Research by scientists funded by Cancer Research UK and the
Wellcome Trust. RAF kinases play an important role in tumor
cell proliferation. The oral, small molecule panRAF inhibitors
target BRAF and other growth pathways relied upon by resistant
tumor cells. These properties allow anti-cancer activity in a range
of tumor models including tumors resistant to anti-BRAF therapy
associated with a number of marketed anti-cancer drugs.[1] The
lead compound is anticipated to start clinical phase 1 testing in
2015.
Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium will lead
clinical phase 1 development for the lead compound. Basilea will
assume full operational responsibility thereafter. The consortium
receives an upfront payment and is eligible to potential milestone
payments on achievement of pre-specified clinical, regulatory and
commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on future net
sales.
Professor Caroline Springer, Professor of Biological Chemistry
at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: "I'm delighted
by today's announcement, which is excellent news for research into
treatments for drug-resistant cancers. The agreement provides the
foundation for the clinical development of this exciting new drug
class. It is an important milestone in efforts to tackle resistance
to existing cancer therapies and provide new options for cancer
patients."
"We are excited about complementing our growing and maturing
oncology pipeline with this novel program including a lead compound
expected to enter clinical testing in 2015. The available data show
that this novel class of panRAF inhibitors are active in tumors
which have developed resistance to currently available RAF kinase
inhibitors and have the potential to offer new treatment options
for melanoma as well as additional cancer indications," said Dr.
Laurenz Kellenberger, Basilea's Chief Scientific Officer.
About The Institute of Cancer Research, London
The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's
most influential cancer research institutes. Scientists and
clinicians at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) are working
every day to make a real impact on cancer patients' lives. Through
its unique partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
and "bench-to-bedside" approach, the ICR is able to create and
deliver results in a way that other institutions cannot. Together
the two organisations are rated in the top four cancer centres
globally. The ICR has an outstanding record of achievement dating
back more than 100 years. It provided the first convincing evidence
that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation
for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic
disease. Today it leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes
and discovering new targeted drugs for personalized cancer
treatment. As a college of the University of London, the ICR
provides postgraduate higher education of international
distinction. It has charitable status and relies on support from
partner organisations, charities and the general public. The ICR's
mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer. For more
information visit http://www.icr.ac.uk
About Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology (CRT) is a specialist
commercialization and development company, which aims to develop
new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer
patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer
scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property
arising from their research and to establish links with commercial
partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing
of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling
technologies. CRT is wholly owned by Cancer Research UK, the
world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through
research. Further information about CRT can be found at
www.cancertechnology.com.
About Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity
dedicated to saving lives through research. Cancer Research UK's
pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
cancer has helped save millions of lives. Cancer Research UK
receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every
step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has
already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty
years. Today, 2 in 4 people survive cancer. Cancer Research UK's
ambition is to accelerate progress so that 3 in 4 people will
survive cancer within the next 20 years. Cancer Research UK
supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of
over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Together with its
partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring
forward the day when all cancers are cured. For further information
about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the
charity, please call +44 (0)300 123 1022 or visit
www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow Cancer Research UK on Twitter and
Facebook.
About The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester, a member of the prestigious
Russell Group of British universities, is the largest and most
popular university in the UK. It has 20 academic schools and
hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering
multi-disciplinary teaching and research of worldwide significance.
The University of Manchester is one of the UK's major research
institutions, rated fifth in the UK in terms of "research power",
and has had no fewer than 25 Nobel laureates either work or study
there. The University had an annual income of GBP 886 million in
2013/14. www.manchester.ac.uk
Cancer is one of The University of Manchester's research beacons
- examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary
collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some
of the biggest questions facing the planet.
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/beacons/cancer/
About Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated
to improving health. It provides more than GBP 700 million a year
to support bright minds in science, the humanities and the social
sciences, as well as education, public engagement and the
application of research to medicine. Its GBP 18 billion investment
portfolio gives it the independence to support such transformative
work as the sequencing and understanding of the human genome,
research that established front-line drugs for malaria, and
Wellcome Collection, its free venue for the incurably curious that
explores medicine, life and art.
About Basilea
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company
developing products that address increasing resistance and
non-response to current treatment options in the therapeutic areas
of bacterial infections, fungal infections and cancer. The company
uses the integrated research, development and commercial operations
of its subsidiary Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. to
develop and commercialize innovative pharmaceutical products to
meet the medical needs of patients with serious and
life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is
headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss
Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at
Basilea's website www.basilea.com.
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain
forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.
and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the
actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is
providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake
to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations |
Investor Relations |
Peer Nils Schröder, PhD Head Public Relations & Corporate
Communications +41 61 606 1102 media_relations@basilea.com |
Barbara Zink, PhD, MBA Head Corporate Development +41 61 606 1233
investor_relations@basilea.com |
This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.
References
[1] Girotti et al., Paradox-breaking RAF inhibitors that also
target SRC are effective in drug-resistant BRAF mutant melanoma,
Cancer Cell 2015 (27), 85-96
Press release (PDF)
http://hugin.info/134390/R/1908073/679873.pdf
HUG#1908073