LDC Receives 1 Million Euros from the Max Planck Foundation for the Development of New Drug Candidates
The Lead Discovery Center (LDC) receives two grants of EUR 0.5 Million each for the development of two drug discovery approaches for treating inflammation and cancer. The funds originate half-and-half from the Max Planck Foundation (MPF) and the Dr Helmut Storz Foundation, which is managed by the MPF.
“We are very pleased to have attracted Dr Helmut Storz as a sponsor for these two exciting projects,” says Dr Bert Klebl, CEO of the LDC. “His focus on translational research fits our mission perfectly, and the grants enable us to advance the designated projects to a stage where they can be channelled into pharmaceutical drug development.”
The first project is a new anti-inflammatory compound being jointly developed by the LDC, the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and the Max Planck Research Unit for Enzymology and Protein Folding. It targets a group of enzymes called cyclophilins, which play an important role in the development of acute inflammation. The first-in-class compound uses a novel and more targeted mode of action that could reduce the dosing requirements and side-effects associated with traditional cyclophilin inhibitors, which include immune suppression and kidney or liver damage. The project holds strong potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in cardiology and autoimmunity.
The second project addresses a highly innovative molecular target that plays a pivotal role in various cancer forms, including breast and ovarian cancer. The project will benefit from the LDC’s extensive know-how in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors for the enzyme class in question. The LDC will collaborate closely with the Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (Caesar), which is associated with the Max Planck Society.
Without this generous support, it would not have been possible to advance these projects into translational development. The goal is to identify an appropriate industry partner for each project at the end of the funding period to ensure further development towards the clinic. The LDC is particularly strong in linking academia and industry to effectively integrate the players in a collaborative drug discovery approach – as proven by the many successful partnerships the LDC has created with top research institutions and pharma companies across the world. In the event of a commercial success, licensing revenues will be shared between the LDC, the originating institutions and the supporting foundations.
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