Phylogica signs deal with UK researchers

Subiaco-based drug discovery company Phylogica Ltd has signed a joint agreement with researchers in the United Kingdom for the development and commercialisation of novel cancer drugs.

The company said today it will work with researchers from the Medical Research Council and Cambridge University's Cambridge Molecular Therapeutics Programme.

The first stage of the collaboration will see the translation of Phylogica's Phylomer® peptide library into a new format, increasing the ways these libraries can be screened to identify potential drug candidates.

This program will be headed by Professor Ashok Venkitaraman and Dr Grahame McKenzie, working with other leading scientists in the Cambridge Molecular Therapeutics Programme and the MRC Cancer Cell Unit at the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre in Cambridge.

Professor Venkitaraman said the Phylomerlibraries are a unique asset.

"The Phylogica libraries contain more than 260 million Phylomer® peptides and we are very excited at the prospect of applying this novel technology in cancer," Professor Venkitaraman said.

Phylogica's Executive Chairman, Mr Aki von Roy, said the collaboration highlights international interest in Phylogica's Phylomer® technology and adds significant value to the technology for potential partners.

"This collaboration allows Phylogica to demonstrate the broad and multiple application of its exclusive Phylomertechnology while maintaining internal focus on its own research projects," Mr von Roy said.

"The expansion into cancer through a world-leading collaborator opens up an even bigger potential market, highlighting the enormous breadth of application of the Phylomertechnology for diseases other than the anti-inflammatory field".