AstraZeneca and Astex announce new Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Alliance
AstraZeneca and UK-based Astex Therapeutics Limited have announced a new alliance for the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small molecule inhibitors of Protein Kinase B, PKB, for use as anti-cancer agents.
The collaboration and licensing agreement grants AstraZeneca worldwide rights to PKB inhibitors discovered under Astex's existing PKB drug discovery collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research and Cancer Research Technology. Astex will be responsible for providing drug candidates, which meet pre-defined criteria to AstraZeneca, which in turn will be responsible for progressing these candidates through development and into the market.
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will provide Astex with an upfront payment, research funding and milestone payments, subject to the satisfactory achievement of development, regulatory and sales targets. In addition, Astex is eligible to receive up to double-digit royalties on commercial sales of approved products. Astex also retains an option in the USA to co-promote products arising from the collaboration.
PKB is one of the most exciting new targets for the development of new classes of molecularly targeted anti-cancer agents. PKB has key roles in both the growth and survival of many tumours, as well as being implicated in resistance of tumours to chemotherapy. Recently it has become clear that resistance to many therapeutic agents is associated with an up-regulation of PKB activity. Thus inhibitors of PKB have potential in both monotherapy and in combination with existing therapies.
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, with healthcare sales of over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and neuroscience products.
For further information please contact:
Staffan Ternby,
Information Director
Tel: +46 0 70 557 4300
Email: staffan.ternby@astrazeneca.com
Or visit: http://www.astrazeneca.com