Provence Technologies synthesises NexGenix’s lead

Published: 30-Jun-2011

The team has improved the route to a successful process transfer to a larger scale cGMP facility


Provence Technologies, a service provider in fine organic chemistry based in Marseille, France, and NexGenix Pharmaceuticals, a New York-based discovery and development company have been successful in the production of preclinical material for NexGenix's lead compound.

NexGenix and Provence Technologies have been collaborating on the synthesis optimisation and pre industrialisation of a molecule targeting Hsp90. Hsp90 is a member of the heat shock protein family, which assists in protein folding, cell signalling, and tumour repression and is a novel target for oncology and neurodegenerative disorders.

The new generation molecule, initially developed by Prof Nicolas Winssinger at Université de Strasbourg, has demonstrated efficacy in numerous oncology models.

Working within very tight schedules, Provence Technologies have successfully produced material required for preclinical testing and IND enabling studies, to enable NexGenix to achieve its IND filing goals.

‘Thanks to Provence Technologies' expertise in fine organic synthesis and the optimisation of challenging reaction conditions, our team has managed to significantly improve the reaction route and conditions for a successful process transfer to a larger scale cGMP facility,’ said Dr Babak Sayah, coo of Provence Technologies. ‘An approach involving constant and rigorous project management allowed Provence Technologies' team to bring NexGenix's compound to a very advanced stage.

‘We put the same level of commitment into the management of NexGenix's project as we put into our own R&D programs,’ Sayah added.

‘Working with Provence Technologies has given us the opportunity to achieve our timelines for our lead program, while at the same time using their substantial experience to reduce costs in the process, even at this early stage of development,’ said Allan Rubenstein, NexGenix's ceo.

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