ProlX Pharmaceuticals has demonstrated that there is strong evidence for the following: 1) PtdIns-3-kinase and Akt are two novel validated molecular targets for anti-cancer drug discovery; 2) The targets are relevant to a variety for human cancers; and 3) Inhibiting the targets with a small molecule drug should in principle overcome the effects of the human tumor suppressor gene PTEN. The objective of the Phase I study, to be conducted by ProlX Pharmaceuticals, is to identify, form a group of 4 analogues with different in vitro properties, the most active in vivo anti- tumor compound. ProlX Pharmaceuticals will establish the activity of the lead compounds against tumor xenografts and obtain preliminary information whether the compounds are orally active.
One in early four deaths in the US is due to cancer. The overall cancer drug market exceeds $2 billion in the USA. There is significant need to identify novel and selective small molecule-based cancer therapies. The proposal seeks to undertake preclinical evaluation of a novel group of clinical candidates and initiate a Phase 1 Clinical Trial for its eventual use as a therapy against ovarian, pancreatic prostate and breast cancer.
