Astex gets cancer charity backing for clinical trial

Collaboration

Fragment-based drug discovery specialist Astex Therapeutics Ltd has sealed a clinical trial agreement with Cancer Research UK. Under the deal, the charity will support the further clinical development of Astex’s kinase inhibitor AT9283 in children and adolescent cancer patients.

A Phase I clinical study of AT9283 will be conducted through the Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office in collaboration with the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group. A further clinical study of AT9283 in children and adolescent patients with blood cancers is also planned.

Astex retains all commercial rights to AT9283. The Cambridge-based company has completed one Phase I trial of the drug in adult patients with solid tumours, with another Phase I trial ongoing. AT9283 is showing early signs of clinical activity in a further Phase I/II trial in blood cancers.

Harren Jhoti, CEO of Astex, said “We have received a lot of interest in the potential of this compound as a novel treatment for a range of cancers and we welcome the opportunity of working with Cancer Research UK.”