NCE and Inploid collaborate on anti-cancer agent
Inploid, based near Oxford, UK, has collaborated with 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 screening 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.
'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.'
Chris Sharman, ceo of NCE Discovery, said: 'We are pleased to be collaborating with Inploid on such a unique project. 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.'