Lorus publishes preclincal data

Scientists at Canadian biotech company Lorus Therapeutics have published the results of investigations aimed at characterising a clotrimazole (CLT) analogue, NC 381.

CLT is an anti-fungal drug that has demonstrated anti-cancer activity but its potential is limited by the presence of high liver toxicity. The goal of the study was to develop a variation or analogue of CLT that aintained the anti-cancer activity without the toxic side effects.¹

Research showed that when a chemical component of CLT responsible for toxicity was removed in designing the analogue NC 381, the new drug inhibited the growth of cancer cells in vitro by a mechanism of action that was similar to CLT. Therefore, this new drug appears to be a safer agent that maintains anti-cancer activity.

Also, the clinical applicability of NC 381 was evaluated in a mouse model of human lung cancer. In this model, NC 381 treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo, demonstrating the potential of NC 381 for treatment of lung cancer.

Lorus recently licensed NC 381 and the library of CLT analogs to Cyclacel, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company. Lorus received an upfront payment for the library including NC 381, and assuming all clinical development milestones are achieved by Cyclacel, Lorus will also receive milestone payments that total approximately US $11.6m for NC 381 and for each of any other compounds developed from the compound library. In addition to these payments, Lorus will receive royalties based on product sales.

'Cyclacel has expertise in the area of drug development represented by anti-cancer agents like NC 381 and the other CLT analogs, and is an excellent partner for Lorus,' said Dr Jim Wright, ceo of Lorus. 'This agreement is also consistent with Lorus' focus on progressing its strong preclinical and clinical programs that are now underway and showing very promising results.'