MerLion set up another drug discovery collaboration
with Astellas Pharma to identify new anti-cancer drug candidates
derived from natural product chemistry.
The collaboration takes the idea of single drug molecules derived from natural sources a step further. Microorganisms and plants have provided the basis for a great range of leading cancer medicines.
Under the terms of the agreement, MerLion will receive a pipeline of validated drug targets from the Astellas portfolio and will utilise its extensive natural sample collection, its modern high throughput screening facilities and experienced natural products chemistry skills for the identification of new chemical seeds.
Astellas will conduct the optimisation of such novel compounds and generate drug candidates for future development.
Successful drug candidates will be subject to agreed licensing terms in return for milestone and royalty payments. Further details of the financial terms are not disclosed.
"The collaboration provides many opportunities for novel candidate generation across the broadened Astellas target portfolio and strengthens our long-term relationship with the Japanese pharmaceutical industry," said Dr.Tony Buss, CEO of MerLion.
Examples of single drug molecules derived from natural sources include plant-derived taxanes, such as Taxol (trade name Paclitaxel, Bristol Myers Squibb, USA). Such diverse, natural chemistry remains a rich source of molecules that are able to interact with the cellular machinery responsible for cancer.
"Our collaboration will extend the window of natural product drug discovery and allow us to take our expertise a step further," said Dr. Isao Yanagisawa, senior corporate officer, Drug Discovery Research of Astellas.
Despite a huge amount of effort, the demand for improved treatment strategies remains. While cancer prevention campaigns have resulted in falling numbers of sufferers, there is still significant room for improvement in survival rates.
Often, the benefits of many existing cancer therapies have to be weighed against serious side effects.
Merlion's deal is the latest in a string of collaborations which has seen the pharmaceutical company further explore the possibilities of new anti-cancer drug candidates derived from natural product chemistry.
Just last month, DrugResearcher.com reported on Merlion's two-year collaboration with Cancer Research Technology (CRT), which aims to identify lead compounds leading to optimisation.
In addition, July saw the extension of an existing collaboration with Merck & Co. The new agreement extended the term of existing drug discovery projects for human health for an additional two years to include the discovery and development of new animal health care products.
Current medical practice to treat cancer usually comprises surgery, supported by chemotherapy and radiotherapy to mop up residual cancer cells. This approach is invasive, aggressive and not wholly effective.
Side effects caused by toxic compounds attacking healthy cells can limit treatment to sub-optimal levels.
Thus there is a clear recognition across the industry that a renaissance in interest in natural product derived chemistry is underway.
Many drug discovery companies that reduced their interest in natural products during the 1990s have seen a decline in the novelty of their discoveries, particularly in the cancer and infectious disease areas and in the growing drug target area of protein: protein interactions.
Many are now recognising that multiple approaches are necessary to achieve success and that natural products chemistry remains one of the many important tools required.
