Kinaxo/Bayer deal to discover biomarkers for leukaemia trial

Collaboration

Kinaxo Biotechnologies and Bayer have agreed a collaboration in which Kinaxo will apply its quantitative phosphoproteomics technology, PhosphoScout, for the identification of novel biomarkers in a clinical trial conducted by Bayer.

PhosphoScout allows annotation and quantification of regulated phosphorylation sites. Since the majority of anti-cancer drugs influence cellular signal transduction pathways, analysis of phosphorylation patterns is indicative of the mode of action. Characteristic phosphorylation sites can be predictive of response to treatment, the existence of a resistance mechanism or of synergistic effects, and can thus be identified as biomarkers, allowing for personalised treatment plans.

In a clinical trial of the multi-kinase inhibitor Nexavar in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Kinaxo, a spin-off of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, will apply the phosphoproteomics technology to elucidate the drug’s influence on cellular phosphorylation patterns and uncover novel predictive biomarkers.

Nexavar is approved for the treatment of hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma and shows promising effects in several other indications, amongst them AML, the most common type of leukemia in adults.

“Both partners aim to investigate innovative technologies, such as phosphoproteomics, and targeted therapies, such as kinase inhibitors, which - in conjunction - should allow more effective cancer treatments,” said Erich Enghofer, Head of Bayer’s Oncology Business Unit.