Inploid Limited has recently been collaborating with the medicinal chemistry company NCE Discovery to develop a potential new anti-cancer agent.
Inploid Limited has recently been collaborating with the medicinal chemistry company NCE Discovery to develop a potential new anti-cancer agent.
Dr Nick Matthews, Research Director at Inploid, explained: "A routine anti-inflammation screen unexpectedly revealed a compound that was capable of causing cell death by the novel mechanism of inhibiting cytokinesis.
We saw this in a range of malignant cell types, including leukaemia cell lines, and decided to develop the compound further with a view to out-licensing it as a novel anti-cancer agent." Nick continued: "At this point we entered into a partnership with NCE Discovery.
Its scientists perform the necessary chemical modifications to improve the compound's potency and specificity and we test the derivatives against malignant cells in vitro.
So far, I am very impressed with NCE staff.
They are very enthusiastic and fully aware of the realities of the pharmaceutical world." Chris Sharman, CEO of NCE Discovery, said: "We are pleased to be collaborating with Inploid on such a truly unique project.
Our experience of the pharmaceutical industry places us in an ideal position to help companies like Inploid to obtain the maximum value possible from their research programmes.
Out-licensing is one of the most important aspects of corporate IP portfolio management and we are delighted to join forces with Inploid on this venture."
