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Boehringer Ingelheim and Priaxonentered into a worldwide collaboration to research and develop mdm2/p53inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.
Priaxon is providing itsinnovative and proprietary small molecule drug discovery expertisewhich is particularly suited to investigate inhibition ofprotein-protein interactions. p53 is a human tumor suppressor protein.It has been shown that in tumors with wild-type p53, the restoration ofp53 tumor-suppressive functions can be achieved by blocking a cellularinteraction of mdm2 and p53. This may reactivate the “genomeguardian” function of p53 and is therefore an interesting approach fortreating various oncological indications.
Under the terms of the collaboration andlicense agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will lead development andcommercialisation of the potential mdm2/p53 inhibitor products tocapitalise on its global marketing and sales expertise. BoehringerIngelheim will pay significant up-front and near-term payments toPriaxon including research funding to support further discoveryefforts. In addition, Priaxon will be eligible to receive fromBoehringer Ingelheim EUR 86 million in milestone payments uponachievement of certain development, regulatory and commercialmilestones as well as royalties on potential future net sales ofproducts.
The companies will work jointly to identifyand advance candidates into pre-clinical development. Thereafter,Boehringer Ingelheim will drive the development and commercialisationof the potential cancer treatments arising from the collaboration.
“We are delighted to work with Priaxon onnovel targeted cancer therapies, to further broaden our OncologyPipeline. The discovery of p53 and its protein-protein interactions ina broad range of human cancers has been a milestone in cancer biology,yet finding potent inhibitors of these interactions has beenchallenging. With our partners, we see a significant potential for thistreatment modality in patients with locally advanced or metastaticcancers for whom available treatment options are not satisfactory,”said Dr Wolfgang Rettig, Corporate Senior Vice President Research atBoehringer Ingelheim.
“Using the strength of its unique drugdiscovery platforms, Priaxon was able to develop new promising mdm2/p53inhibitors with high potency”, said Dr Juergen Kolb, CEO of Priaxon.“Our collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim and its experts inoncology provides the resources and the capabilities to drive thisprogramme forward. Both Boehringer Ingelheim and Priaxon are lookingforward to working together with the goal to develop a small moleculeinhibitor for this protein-protein interaction of high potential.”
