ChemDiv and ProQinase collaborate on lead discovery in oncology

Global contract research organisation ChemDiv and ProQinase of Freiburg, Germany have formed a partnership in the discovery and preclinical development of new kinase inhibitors.

Under the agreement ChemDiv will support design and synthesis of target-focused small molecule libraries, undertake medicinal chemistry for hit to lead and lead optimisation, as well as drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics and certain in vivo experiments.

ProQinase will be responsible for in vitro kinase inhibitor screening and profiling on a panel of jointly selected oncology-relevant kinase targets, cellular assays and in vivo experiments. Both parties will share development costs and revenues from the planned out-licensing of optimised leads.

The development of protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer is still at an early stage. Dr Michael Kubbutat, head of r&d at ProQinase.said: 'Due to the diversity of molecular alterations found in human cancers, the lack of efficient and safe drugs for treating different types of cancers is substantial. ProQinase has experience in the development of compounds that simultaneously block different mechanisms involved in tumor growth.'