Vernalis Announces New Oncology Development Candidate

23-Jul-2009 - United Kingdom

Vernalis plc announced it has selected a development candidate, V158411 from its Checkpoint Kinase 1 (Chk1) research programme in oncology.

Following treatment with cytotoxic drugs, some cancer cells use the Chk1 pathway to increase cell survival by pausing DNA replication and allowing repair of the damaged DNA before completing cell division. Inhibition of the Chk1 enzyme blocks this pathway, forcing cells to divide (mitosis), causing substantial DNA damage that results in their death.

The aim of this programme was to identify product candidates that increase the anti-tumour efficacy of current cytotoxic agents without increasing their toxicity to non-cancerous tissues. V158411 has met these goals in pre-clinical cancer models when administered with commonly used cytotoxic agents, and has drug-like characteristics and appropriate pharmacokinetic properties.

Because Chk1 inhibitors are used in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs, they can potentially be used to treat a broad range of tumour types including breast, prostate, colorectal and melanoma. They may also be used in haematological cancers such as leukaemia.

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