Jan 18 2010
Boehringer Ingelheim and Priaxon entered into a worldwide collaboration
to research and develop mdm2/p53 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.
Priaxon is providing its innovative and proprietary small molecule drug
discovery expertise which is particularly suited to investigate
inhibition of protein-protein interactions. p53 is a human tumor
suppressor protein. It has been shown that in tumors with wild-type p53,
the restoration of p53 tumor-suppressive functions can be achieved by
blocking a cellular interaction of mdm2 and p53. This may
reactivate the “genome guardian” function of p53 and is therefore an
interesting approach for treating various oncological indications.
“Our collaboration with Boehringer
Ingelheim and its experts in oncology provides the resources and the
capabilities to drive this programme forward. Both Boehringer Ingelheim
and Priaxon are looking forward to working together with the goal to
develop a small molecule inhibitor for this protein-protein interaction
of high potential.”
Under the terms of the collaboration and license agreement, Boehringer
Ingelheim will lead development and commercialisation of the potential
mdm2/p53 inhibitor products to capitalise on its global marketing and
sales expertise. Boehringer Ingelheim will pay significant up-front and
near-term payments to Priaxon including research funding to support
further discovery efforts. In addition, Priaxon will be eligible to
receive from Boehringer Ingelheim EUR 86 million in milestone payments
upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial
milestones as well as royalties on potential future net sales of
products.
The companies will work jointly to identify and advance candidates into
pre-clinical development. Thereafter, Boehringer Ingelheim will drive
the development and commercialisation of the potential cancer treatments
arising from the collaboration.
"We are delighted to work with Priaxon on novel targeted cancer
therapies, to further broaden our Oncology Pipeline. The discovery of
p53 and its protein-protein interactions in a broad range of human
cancers has been a milestone in cancer biology, yet finding potent
inhibitors of these interactions has been challenging. With our
partners, we see a significant potential for this treatment modality in
patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancers for whom available
treatment options are not satisfactory," said Dr Wolfgang Rettig,
Corporate Senior Vice President Research at Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Using the strength of its unique drug discovery platforms, Priaxon was
able to develop new promising mdm2/p53 inhibitors with high potency”,
said Dr Juergen Kolb, CEO of Priaxon. “Our collaboration with Boehringer
Ingelheim and its experts in oncology provides the resources and the
capabilities to drive this programme forward. Both Boehringer Ingelheim
and Priaxon are looking forward to working together with the goal to
develop a small molecule inhibitor for this protein-protein interaction
of high potential.”
SOURCE Priaxon
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