Felicitex Therapeutics and Selvita Initiate Strategic Collaboration to Target Cancer Quiescence

11-Nov-2014 - Poland

Felicitex Therapeutics and Selvita announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop breakthrough personalized cancer therapeutics for some of the deadliest and most resistant cancers, such as pancreatic, colon, ovarian, lung and hematopoietic tumors.

During the first phase of the collaboration the companies seek to discover and develop selective inhibitors of the cancer quiescence target kinase family, in order to generate multiple novel drug candidates against the quiescent cancer cells. The ultimate aim of the joint project is to deliver clinical candidates for unmet oncology indications. The companies plan joint projects on other targets related to cancer quiescence in the future.

It is currently well accepted in the scientific community that populations of malignant cells are highly heterogeneous and whereas some of the cancer cells divide rapidly, some of the cancer cells are quiescent. All currently available cancer chemotherapies target proliferating cancer cells. Quiescent cancer cells are invulnerable to these treatments because quiescent cells are not dividing. Moreover, when cancer cells are under stress, such as from chemotherapy, anti-angiogenesis therapy, or radiation, cancer cells often go to “sleep”, or use quiescent state as a niche to hide. After the completion of treatment, these cells begin growing again and cause cancer recurrence.

The alliance of Felicitex Therapeutics and Selvita allows to combine Felicitex’s experience in targeting cancer quiescence with Selvita’s significant know how on cancer quiescence target kinases, leading to a potentially breakthrough cooperation and delivery of much needed effective antineoplastic medicines.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/150429/felicitex-therapeutics-and-selvita-initiate-strategic-collaboration-to-target-cancer-quiescence.html