Vic Research Institute collaborating to develop new cancer theraputics

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) has entered into an exclusive global collaboration agreement with the California-based biotech company Genentech, Inc. to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialise a new class of
broad spectrum cancer therapeutics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Genentech will make upfront and research program payments with the further possibility of milestone and royalty payments in the future.

The companies are not disclosing financial terms of the collaboration.

The agreement builds on basic scientific research carried out at WEHI over recent years, specifically regarding the therapeutic potential of regulating the activity of proteins that control the normal and healthy process of cell death called apoptosis.

Research at WEHI has produced an encouraging series of small molecule drug candidates that could stimulate apoptosis and aid cancer treatment.

WEHI’s first priority is to ensure that cancer patients directly benefit from the results of their fundamental research, and this collaboration which combines WEHI’s world-class science with Genentech’s expertise in drug development, may support the development of lead compounds into effective anti-cancer drugs.