Cambridge, UK. 26^th September  2005… CellCentric, a leading company in the exploitation of epigenetics and Cancer Research Technology Ltd (CRT), the specialist oncology commercialisation and development company announce that they have begun an anti-cancer co-development programme.  The programme of two phases aims to initially validate CellCentric’s novel and proprietary epigenetic-related lead cancer target, and subsequently develop monoclonal antibody therapeutic products.  

This is the first time that CRT’s expanded Development Laboratory has collaborated with a commercial third party in development of an external technology – a significant milestone for CRT and an endorsement of CellCentric’s unique and powerful discovery base.  Both parties will share the costs and rewards of the collaboration which may be followed by the co-development of other targets identified by CellCentric.

CellCentric’s technology is based on its unique understanding of epigenetic mechanisms that control cell function and fate.  Many cancers have abnormal epigenetic profiles and by targeting errant epigenetic mechanisms, cancer cells can be selected for destruction.  CellCentric has identified several novel and proprietary proteins that influence cell fate and are clear candidates for the development of cancer therapeutics. 

Commenting on the news, Dr Will West, CellCentric’s COO said: “Collaborating with CRT is a very important next step for CellCentric in working towards product development from its epigenetics research platform.  Working with a partner of the calibre of CRT demonstrates great confidence in the potential of CellCentric’s epigenetics discovery base. It is encouraging to see that, in such a short time, we have progressed our epigenetics research to a stage where collaboration is possible.”

Ends 

Further information

At CellCentric:

Will West, 01954 213 498/ 07909 547 950/ will.west@cellcentric.co.uk

At CRT:

Nick Wells, 0207 269 3640/ nwells@cancertechnology.com

Media Enquiries:

Rowan Minnion, 020 7886 8150/ r.minnion@northbankcommunications.com  

Notes to editors

About CellCentric Ltd.  www.cellcentric.co.uk

CellCentric Ltd. is establishing itself as one of the leaders in the commercial exploitation of epigenetics and mechanisms that determine cell fate.  The company was founded in May 2004 with initial funding from Avlar BioVentures and Providence Investment Trust and subsequently from The Rainbow Seed Fund and the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA). The company is based upon the world leading research of Prof Azim Surani FRS at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge.  His work is complemented by that at the Babraham Institute, one of Europe’s leading research centres in epigenetics.

About Cancer Research Technology Limited www.cancertechnology.com

Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) is a specialist commercialisation and development company, which aims to develop new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling technologies. CRT is wholly owned by Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. 

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of the functional groups that sit on top of genes and their associated proteins. The pattern, or imprint, of these functional groups is responsible for a cell’s specific function and fate. It determines which genes are made accessible to the cell’s machinery for reading and translation into proteins.  The field of epigenetics is expected to radically change traditional approaches to treating diseases, including cancer and degenerative conditions.