Zoom imageDr. Daniel Korr analyzes the division of cancer cells using a laser scanning microscope.
Bayer Schering Pharma plans to cooperate with California-based OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics. The two companies have signed an agreement targeting the development of inhibitors for a specific cellular information pathway (so-called Wnt signal transduction) that could play a role in the development of cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells are a subset of tumor cells believed to play a significant role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer, and agents targeting the Wnt pathway have the potential to be developed as pan-tumor drugs. The strategic alliance with OncoMed provides Bayer Schering Pharma with the option to exclusively license antibody and protein therapeutic product candidates for the Wnt pathway at any point up to the completion of Phase I testing.
In addition, Bayer and OncoMed will share technology and know-how to discover and develop not just protein therapeutics, but also small molecule inhibitors of the pathway. “The development of anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics is a highly innovative approach with the potential to perfectly complement our oncology portfolio,” says Professor Andreas Busch, Head of Global Drug Discovery at Bayer Schering Pharma.