Date: 2012-11-05
Type of information: Grant
Company: Cyclaced Pharmaceuticals (USA)
Investors: Biomedical Catalyst Fund (UK)
Amount: £1.2 million (€ 1.5 million)
Funding type: grant
Planned used: The funds will be used to complete IND-directed preclinical development of CYC065. This novel, orally available, cell cycle kinase inhibitor targets similar CDK/cyclin complexes to those targeted by seliciclib, Cyclacel\'s first generation CDK inhibitor currently in Phase 2 studies. This second generation aminopurine selectively inhibits CDK2, CDK5 and CDK9. Strong preclinical anti-cancer efficacy data for CYC065 in multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) have been presented at the 2010 Annual Meetings of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR). At the 2010 AACR CYC065 was also reported to be active in solid tumor models, including trastuzumab-resistant, cyclin E overexpressing breast cancer. Cyclacel discovered CYC065 in collaboration with the Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research. The grant will allow Cyclacel to explore CYC065\'s anticancer activity in a translational biology program targeting specific leukemia and other cancer disease pathways with the ultimate goal of filing for regulatory approval to begin clinical trials. The project aims to complete IND-directed preclinical development of CYC065 and following regulatory clearance enable first-in-humans Phase 1 clinical studies. A key component of the project is a translational biology effort which may lead to validating one or more patient stratification biomarkers. Such biomarkers will be used to inform clinical development of CYC065 and direct its administration to patient groups most likely to benefit from the drug\'s mechanism.
Others: Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing oral therapies that target the various phases of cell cycle control for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, has announced the award of a grant of approximately £1.2 ($1.9) million from the UK Government\'s Biomedical Catalyst to complete IND-directed preclinical development of CYC065, its novel, orally available, second generation, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor.
The award was announced by Technology Strategy Board and is one of 32 projects awarded funding totalling £39 million. These are the first substantial awards made from the £ 180 million Biomedical Catalyst programme managed by the Technology Strategy Board and the Medical Research Council.
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
