Published: September 13, 2005
Cyclacel Group PLC announces Collaboration on Nephrology Applications of CDK Inhibitors
PRESS RELEASE
CYCLACEL ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION
ON NEPHROLOGY APPLICATIONS OF CDK INHIBITORS
Dundee, Scotland, U.K., 14 September 2005 - Cyclacel Group plc ("Cyclacel"), the
cell cycle-based biopharmaceutical company, announced today an evaluation and
option agreement with Genzyme Corporation in the field of renal diseases
involving certain of Cyclacel's preclinical stage Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK)
inhibitor molecules.
Under the terms of the agreement Cyclacel granted Genzyme an exclusive option to
license two preclinical stage CDK inhibitors for further development in renal
diseases and certain related conditions. The agreement does not include any
rights in oncology or other therapeutic areas.
The Cyclacel compounds are derived from multiple pharmacophores, act selectively
on CDK enzyme targets and possess drug-like properties. Genzyme will conduct a
preclinical evaluation of the optioned compounds, including assessing efficacy
in relevant disease models. During the option period the parties may pursue a
collaboration and license agreement with the objective of development and
commercialization of the Cyclacel compounds. Financial terms of the option
agreement were not disclosed.
Cyclacel scientists and academic collaborators have demonstrated the beneficial
effects of pharmacological CDK inhibition in preclinical models of renal disease
including lupus nephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, HIV associated
nephropathy and IgA nephropathy.
Spiro Rombotis, Cyclacel's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are pleased to
enter into this collaboration with Genzyme with the objective of exploring the
utility of selected Cyclacel CDK inhibitors in the field of renal diseases.
This transaction validates our belief that CDK inhibitors may have therapeutic
applications beyond oncology. It also demonstrates our strategy of pursuing our
oncology candidates to an advanced stage of clinical development before seeking
alliances while seeking to partner other therapeutic areas outside cancer at an
earlier stage."
About Cyclacel (www.cyclacel.com)
Cyclacel is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development
and commercialization of novel, mechanism-targeted drugs to treat human cancers
and other serious disorders. The company is currently evaluating seliciclib
(CYC202), an orally-available Cyclin Dependent Kinase inhibitor, in Phase II
clinical trials for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and B-cell
hematological malignancies. CYC682 is an orally-available, cell cycle
modulating nucleoside analog in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of
cancer. Cyclacel has eight additional programs at preclinical stages.
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Contacts for further information:
Cyclacel +44 (1382) 206 062
Spiro Rombotis, Chief Executive Officer
Paul McBarron, Chief Financial Officer
Buchanan Communications: +44 (20) 7466 5000
Mark Court/Tim Anderson/Mary-Jane Johnson
Feinstein Kean Healthcare: +1 (617) 577 8110
Robert Gottlieb
Notes to Editors:
Glomeruli are the kidney's filtering units and about one million of them exist
in each kidney. There are a number of disease states which can affect kidney
function. Several of these involve either inflammation or proliferation of
cells. Membranous nephropathy (also called membranous nephritis or membranous
glomerulonephritis) is a kidney disease in which inflammation of the glomeruli
causes the glomerular filtering layer (Glomerular Basement Membrane) to become
thickened causing protein to leak into the urine. When this leak is severe, the
disease is called nephrotic syndrome. The diagnosis of membranous nephropathy
requires a kidney biopsy. Membranous nephropathy is a primary renal disease of
uncertain origin and may be associated with other conditions such as hepatitis
B, malaria, malignant solid tumours, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus, as well as toxic exposure to gold, mercury, penicillamine,
trimethadione, skin-lightening creams and others. Lupus nephritis and
crescentic glomerulonephritis are major complications of membranous nephropathy.
Lupus nephritis
Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE). It usually manifests within five years of diagnosis. Lupus
nephritis occurs histologically in the majority of patients with SLE, even if
they are not clinically diagnosed with renal disease. The disease is difficult
to diagnose and its symptoms are generally related to hypertension, proteinuria
and renal failure.
Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CG)
Crescents are defined as the presence of two or more layers of cells in a kidney
compartment called the Bowman space. The presence of crescents in kidney
glomeruli is a marker of severe renal injury. CG is initially associated with
disruption of the glomerular basement membrane and glomerular capillaries.
Circulating cells, inflammatory mediators and plasma proteins pass through
capillary walls into the Bowman space. Cells and mediators from the interstitium
enter the Bowman space resulting in disruption of the Bowman capsule, which
leads to development of crescents. CG is mediated by antibody or cellular
immunity and results from deposition of antibodies along the basement membrane
and/or glomerular deposition of preformed soluble immune complexes. Its clinical
symptoms are cell proliferation and proteinuria.
(c) 2005 - Cyclacel Group plc All Rights Reserved. Cyclacel(R) is a registered
trademark.
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