Das Projekt beinhaltet die Entwicklung von personalisierten Therapien für Betroffene mit seltenen NME, bei denen bisher Behandlungsmöglichkeiten fehlen. Zu den Patient:innen gehören auch Kinder und junge Erwachsene, die bislang keine Aussicht auf Heilung oder zumindest auf Linderung der Erkrankung hatten. Für sie sollen neue therapeutische Ansätze entwickelt werden, die im Sinne eines “Bench-to-Bedside”-Prinzips (aus dem Labor an das Krankenbett) direkt in individuelle Heilversuche überführt werden können. Dabei kommen sogenannte Omics-Technologien sowie Bioinformatik inkl. Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) zum Einsatz, um therapeutisch relevante Krankheitsmechanismen zu identifizieren und in die klinische Anwendung zu überführen.

Ausgangspunkt für diesen Ansatz sind die Patient:innenauswahl, die Analyse von  Hautbiopsien und die nachfolgende Phänotypisierung (Klassifizierung des Erscheinungsbildes) der gewonnenen Hautzellen (genauer: Fibroblasten). Diese Phänotypisierung, die von Wissenschaftler:innen in Düsseldorf, Bochum und Essen durchgeführt wird, wird zum Verständnis der zugrunde liegenden Eigenschaften dieser Zellen führen. Da Hautzellen dieselben genetischen Informationen wie Muskelzellen tragen, lassen sich ihre krankheitsverursachenden Veränderungen mit Omics-

Technologien untersuchen. Omics bezeichnet die gesamtheitliche Charakterisierung unter anderem aller Gene, Proteine oder Metabolite (Stoffwechselprodukte). Omics-Daten liefern einen wichtigen Ansatzpunkt in der personalisierten Medizin, da sie Aufschluss über individuelle Krankheitsvorgänge und mögliche Therapieansätze geben. Die Firma Singleron wird die zugrunde liegenden Genaktivitäten (sogenannte Transkriptomanalysen) durchführen, während ISAS-Forschende die entsprechenden Proteine und Stoffwechselprodukte auf Basis speziell entwickelter Massenspektrometrie-Verfahren analysieren werden.

 Suche nach bereits bekannten und unbekannten Arzneimittelwirkstoffen

Die gewonnenen Omics-Daten werden Bioinformatiker:innen am ISAS anschließend mithilfe von KI auswerten und mit Datenbanken zu vorhandenen Arzneimittelwirkstoffen abgleichen. Das Ziel dieser Analysen ist es, geeignete, bereits bekannte Wirkstoffe zu finden, mit denen sich die im ersten Schritt identifizierten fehlregulierten zellulären Prozesse bei NME adressieren lassen – und die damit für die Behandlung der Patient:innen infrage kommen können. Außerdem wird das Lead Discovery Center nach weiteren potenziell wirksamen Substanzen suchen. Sowohl die neuen, als auch bereits bekannten Wirkstoffe werden anschließend im Labor an den gewonnenen Fibroblasten getestet. In einem weiteren Schritt werden die Wissenschaftler:innen die Relevanz der fehlregulierten zellulären Prozesse in Nerven- und Muskelzellen prüfen. Erfolgversprechende Substanzen sollen danach in den Kliniken direkt für eine personalisierte Behandlung in individuellen Heilversuchen in den Patient:innen eingesetzt werden.

Insgesamt hat das Konsortium aus Kliniker:innen, Grundlagenwissenschaftler:innen und Bioinformatiker:innen bei diesem Forschungsprojekt sowohl den medizinischen, als auch den gesellschaftlichen Nutzen im Fokus. Eine verbesserte Lebensqualität der NME-Patient:innen durch neue personalisierte Therapien wirkt sich nicht nur positiv auf die einzelnen Betroffenen, sondern auch auf ihre Familien und das gesamte gesellschaftliche Umfeld aus.

Übersicht der Projektpartner

Unter der Leitung von Prof. Dr. Tobias Ruck von der Universitätsmedizin Düsseldorf vereint das Konsortium führende medizinische Forschungsinstitutionen und Industrieunternehmen. Dieser synergistische neuartige Ansatz ermöglicht innovative Therapiestrategien zur schnelleren Diagnostik und Behandlung von NME. Zentral für diese Ziele ist eine intensive Zusammenarbeit der Projektpartner:innen:

• Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinik für Neurologie
• Universitätsmedizin Essen, Abteilung für Neuropädiatrie
• BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum
• Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS e.V.
• Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), Dortmund
• Singleron Biotechnologies GmbH, Köln

Weitere Informationen: b2b-rare.de

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Über die Klinik für Neurologie des Universitätsklinikums Düsseldorf

In der Klinik für Neurologie des Universitätsklinikums Düsseldorf (Klinikleitung: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Sven Meuth; Stellvertretung: Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Ruck) wird das gesamte Spektrum neurologischer Erkrankungen bei Erwachsenen ab 18 Jahren diagnostiziert und behandelt. Insgesamt werden in der Klinik für Neurologie jährlich ca. 15000 Patient:innen stationär und ambulant behandelt (ca. 2000-2500 Patient:innen davon mit neuromuskulären Krankheitsbildern). Die Klinik ist Teil des Neuromuskulären Zentrums Nordrhein. Zudem ist die Klinik für Neurologie ein zertifiziertes Myasthenie-Zentrum. In der Klinik wird das Konzept einer engen Vernetzung von Patient:innenversorgung, klinischer Forschung und Grundlagenwissenschaft verfolgt. Das Team möchte, dadurch die Ursachen neurologischer Erkrankungen besser verstehen und neue Therapiemöglichkeiten entwickeln. Die intensive Einbindung in internationale Studien gibt die Möglichkeit, Patient:innen   Zugang zu neuesten innovativen Therapien zu verschaffen.

Weitere Informationen: www.uniklinik-duesseldorf.de

Über die Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik des BG-Universitätsklinikums Bergmannsheil

Die Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik des BG-Universitätsklinikums Bergmannsheil (Interimsleitung Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Vorgerd) befasst sich neben der klinischen Versorgung sämtlicher neurologischer Erkrankungen von Patient:innen ab einem Alter von 18 Jahren mit einem breiten Spektrum klinischer und grundlagenwissenschaftlicher Forschung. Die Klinik ist Teil des Muskelzentrums Ruhrgebiet und von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke e.V. (DGM) zertifiziertes Neuromuskuläres Zentrum. Sie ist an verschiedenen nationalen und internationalen Studien beteiligt. Zudem verfügt die Klinik über ein eigenes neuromuskuläres Labor, wo diagnostische und wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen am entnommenen Skelettmuskel, Nerven und Haut durchgeführt werden.  

Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Erforschung von neuromuskulären Erkrankungen (NME), die sich vor allem auf die Untersuchung von Muskel-, Nerven- und Hautbiopsien stützt. Die Forschungsaktivitäten auf dem Gebiet der NME werden durch das Heimer Institut für Muskelforschung gefördert, welches in die Organisationstruktur der Neurologischen Klinik eingeordnet ist. Diese enge Vernetzung von klinischer Arbeit, spezialisierter Labordiagnostik und grundlagenwissenschaftlicher Forschung soll zur Entwicklung neuer Behandlungsmöglichkeiten beitragen.

Über die Abteilung für Neuropädiatrie der Universitätsmedizin Essen AöR

Die Abteilung für Neuropädiatrie beschäftigt sich neben der routinediagnostischen Analyse der Muskulatur von Patient:innen auch mit der Erforschung der molekularen Ursachen der jeweiligen Krankheitsbilder. Dazu zählen die Identifikation neuer Gene, sowie die Analyse der biochemischen Ursachen neurodegenerativer und muskulärer Erkrankungen. Die Forschungsaktivitäten des neuromuskulären Labors werden hierbei durch Herrn PD Dr. rer. Nat. Andreas Roos (Adjunct Professor der University of Ottawa) und Frau Prof. Dr. med. Ulrike Schara-Schmidt geleitet. Forschungsinteressen des Muskellabors liegen auf der Identifikation von Pathomechanismen und Biomarkern für neuromuskuläre Erkrankungen mit einem ausgesprochenen Fokus auf die Nutzung von Biomaterial. Dabei steht auch die Nutzung von Biomaterialien, welche minimal-invasive gewonnen werden können, im Fokus.

Im Rahmen von translationalen Prozessen ist das neuromuskuläre Labor Bestandteil zahlreicher nationaler und internationaler Studien (clinicaltrials.gov) sowie an übergreifenden nationalen und internationalen Studien zur Genotyp-Phänotyp Korrelationen beteiligt.

Über das Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS e.V. –

Das Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V. entwickelt leistungsfähige Analyseverfahren für die Gesundheitsforschung. Mit seinen Innovationen trägt es dazu bei, die Prävention, Frühdiagnose und Therapie von Erkrankungen zu verbessern. Ziel des Instituts ist es, die personalisierte Therapie voranzutreiben. Dafür kombiniert das ISAS das Wissen aus Chemie, Biologie, Medizin, Pharmakologie, Physik und Informatik. Das Institut kooperiert mit nationalen und internationalen Partnern aus der Wissenschaft und Industrie.

Weitere Informationen: www.isas.de

Über die Singleron Biotechnologies GmbH

Singleron Biotechnologies fördert die Präzisionsmedizin und die menschliche Gesundheit durch wegweisende Lösungen zur Analyse von Einzelzell-Multi-Omics. Das aktuelle Produktportfolio umfasst Hochdurchsatzgeräte für die automatisierte Verarbeitung von Einzelzellen und Gewebedissoziation, Reagenzien, Bioinformatik-Software sowie eine umfassende Wissensdatenbank für Einzelzellen.

Gegründet im Jahr 2018, ist Singleron weltweit tätig und verfügt über Büros, Labore und Produktionsstätten in Deutschland, Singapur, China und den USA. Die Produkte des Unternehmens werden in über 3000 Laboren in Krankenhäusern, Forschungsinstituten und Pharmaunternehmen in mehr als 20 Ländern eingesetzt.

Weitere Informationen: www.singleron.bio. Folgen Sie uns auf LinkedIn für aktuelle Updates.

Über die Lead Discovery Center GmbH

Die Lead Discovery Center GmbH wurde 2008 von der Technologietransfer-Organisation Max-Planck-Innovation gegründet, um das Potenzial exzellenter Grundlagenforschung für die Entwicklung neuer, dringend benötigter Medikamente besser zu nutzen. LDC nimmt vielversprechende Projekte aus der akademischen Forschung auf und entwickelt sie typischerweise weiter bis zu pharmazeutischen Leitstrukturen (Proof-of-Concept in Modellsystemen) oder bis zu präklinischen Kandidaten. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit führenden Partnern aus der akademischen Forschung und Industrie entwickelt LDC ein umfangreiches Portfolio an Projekten im Bereich niedermolekularer Wirkstoffe sowie therapeutische Antikörper mit außergewöhnlich hohem medizinischem und kommerziellem Potenzial.

LDC unterhält eine enge Partnerschaft mit der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft und dem KHAN Technology Transfer Funds I + II (KHAN-I, -II). Es hat weltweit zahlreiche Kooperationen mit verschiedenen Organisationen geschlossen, u.a. AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Qurient, invIOs, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea AS und den Helmholtz-Zentren, für Infektionsforschung (HZI) und dem Deutschen Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ). Das LDC arbeitet außerdem mit führenden akademischen Wirkstoffforschungszentren und Investoren zusammen, um Firmengründungen zu unterstützen.

Weitere Informationen: www.lead-discovery.de

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Scope of Collaboration

Antibody-based inhibitors have gained  relevance in the field of drug discovery due to their exceptional affinity, selectivity and physicochemical properties. Within this collaboration, Icosagen will generate, identify, and discover potent antibodies against innovative and therapeutically relevant targets, supplying them to LDC for further development.

Utilizing its proprietary technology, Icosagen will produce the proteins of interest and enhance their display on the surface of virus-like particles, which serve as vehicles for the production of antibodies with affinity for the targets. Subsequently, an extensive library will be established to facilitate the selection of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies, which will undergo further analysis at LDC through a streamlined process of high-throughput screening. This partnership highlights Icosagen’s capability to scale its proprietary platforms and synergize effectively with LDC’s workflow.

“Partnering with LDC will further help expand the opportunities for antibody therapeutics, especially in the challenging field of GPCR-targeted treatments” said professor Mart Ustav, CEO of Icosagen. “This will not only highlight our technological expertise but also perfectly aligns with our mission to transform scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments.”

“We are excited to partner up with Icosagen, a competent and highly experienced player in the field of antibody research” remarked Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO of LDC. “This project will greatly benefit from Icosagen’s expertise and state-of-the-art capabilities as we pursue our shared goal: the development of novel therapeutics that can make a meaningful difference in healthcare.”

Future Prospects

LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential. The partnership between Icosagen and LDC holds promise in advancing targeted therapeutics, with the potential to revolutionize treatment approaches and improve outcomes for patients worldwide. The successful development of these monoclonal antibodies is anticipated to significantly advance the understanding and treatment of diseases.

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About Icosagen

Icosagen is a renowned biotech company with over 20 years of experience in pioneering antibody research and production. With a strong commitment to innovation, Icosagen has developed a range of proprietary platforms for the efficient discovery, development and manufacturing of high-quality antibodies, serving the global research community and pharmaceutical industry.

Further information available at: www.icosagen.com

About LDC

Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.

LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and its institutes as well as with KHAN-I, and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, InvIOS, Novo Nordisk, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery AS, HLB Pharma, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.

Further information available at: www.lead-discovery.de

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Contact:

Lead Discovery Center GmbH
Otto-Hahn-Straße 15
44227 Dortmund, Germany
pr@lead-discovery.de
www.lead-discovery.de

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Tromsø, Norway, and Dortmund, Germany – April 25th, 2024. KinSea Lead Discovery AS, a biopharmaceutical start-up pioneering the use of marine bioactives for the treatment of human diseases, announces the successful first closing of its seed financing round. It includes an equity investment from KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I), an early-stage life sciences venture fund based in Germany, and welcomes the new investor Berners AS, a North Norwegian investment company. A year ago, KinSea had already secured a convertible loan from KHAN-I, which was recently converted into shares.

The financing enables the company to further develop its lead program, a FLT3 kinase inhibitor based on unique chemistry from marine sources, towards preclinical and clinical testing. Data from in vivo proof-of-concept studies suggest superior properties over existing FLT3 inhibitors, including potential broad activity against known drug-induced and drug-resistant FLT3 mutations, improved selectivity, and outstanding in vivo potency. The program originates from the successful collaboration of the founding partners, Arctic University of Norway (UiT), University of Bergen (UiB), Norinnova, and Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC).

‘We are grateful for the continued confidence and support from KHAN-I, and delighted to welcome Berners AS on board’, says Jeanette Hammer Andersen, CEO of KinSea. ‘This first closing validates the transformative potential of our approach. We are very committed to take our FLT3 inhibitors through the next stages of drug discovery and development in order to provide entirely new treatment options for AML patients that are safer and more effective’.

KinSea also plans to gradually expand its drug discovery pipeline and establish a diversified portfolio of high-potential drug candidates based on novel chemical scaffolds from the Arctic Ocean for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

‘We are excited to reaffirm our commitment to KinSea and its groundbreaking work in the field of marine-derived therapeutics. The team has made significant progress over the last year, and we are convinced that their unique approach and capable team will continue to drive the maturation and expansion of their pipeline, and eventually make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives, in particular with regard to urgently needed, improved therapies for AML patients’, comments Bert Klebl, Managing Director of KHAN-I.

Mats Sæverud, CEO of Berners AS, adds: ‘In KinSea, we found an ambitious startup company that wants to make an important impact by employing natural products from the Arctic Ocean. The KinSea team has bold visions, scalable solutions, excellent expertise and skills, and fits well with Berners´ ambitions.’

KinSea has already started discussions with further investors for a second and final closing.

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Contact
Lead Discovery Center GmbH
Otto-Hahn-Straße 15
44227 Dortmund
Germany
Phone: +49 231 97 42 70 00
Mail: pr@lead-discovery.de

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About KHAN-I

KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund with €70 million under management. Our mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-I focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. The fund is managed by Khanu Management GmbH, an experienced team of professionals with proven track records in early-stage drug development and academic spin-offs as well as pharma licensing and partnering. KHAN-I received an investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) with the support of InnovFin Equity, and with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (“EFSI”) under the Investment Plan for Europe. KHANI is also supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS with funds provided by the Austrian

Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Foundation for Research, Technology, and Development), Max Planck Foundation, and Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft mbH. In addition, KHAN-I sustains a preferred partnership with the Max-Planck Society (Max-Planck Gesellschaft e.V.).

Further information at www.khanu.de

About Berners AS

Berners AS is a newly established, privately owned investment company, based in Tromsø, Norway. Through investments and active ownership, Berners will contribute to the development of profitable and sustainable businesses, especially within the seafood and marine sector. We aim to be a supporter of the development of brands and competence clusters in Northern Norway. Our investment strategy is based on our knowledge and love for the coast and the sea, and the opportunities that exist there. Berners is owned by Triko AS (80%) and Larren Invest AS (20%).

About Norinnova

Norinnova is one of Northern Norway’s most competent and experienced agencies for research commercialization. Norinnova connects researchers, start-up environments, companies and commercial actors to develop and utilize the region’s innovation power. For more than 30 years, Norinnova has worked closely with researchers and leading research communities in Northern Norway to harness the power of innovation in this region. This collaboration has contributed to the creation of brand-new businesses and has reinforced existing companies through new products and services. Norinnova secures rights, helps provide funding, investigates market potential, finds relevant partners, and contributes so that the scientists can get their product or service to the market.

Further information available at: www.norinnova.no

About LDC

Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.

LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and its institutes as well as with KHAN-I, and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, InvIOS, Novo Nordisk, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery AS, HLB Pharma, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.

Further information available at: www.lead-discovery.de

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Cardiac Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Kinase II (CaMKII) plays a central role in maladaptive processes in the diseased heart. The partners aim to develop a new class of CaMKII modulators by using an innovative strategy, expected to block the aberrant effects of CaMKII while preserving physiological CaMKII functions.

The approach was discovered and validated by Prof. Johannes Backs and his team at the Heidelberg University Hospital, and further advanced together with the LDC. During this phase, Prof. Backs´ research was supported by the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) with a programme that promotes the translation of approaches from basic research into clinical application. In their year of collaboration, the partners succeeded in generating a range of promising hit compounds.

“It is a great pleasure for us to continue working with the excellent team around Prof. Backs and to welcome Novo Nordisk on board for the second phase of our collaboration, focusing on hit-to-lead development. We very much appreciate their early involvement and look forward to their input which will be extremely valuable in guiding project progress”, says Bert Klebl, CEO & CSO of the LDC. “Heart failure is one of the most prevalent and deadly diagnoses upon hospital admission, and despite therapeutic progress we still see high rates of mortality and morbidity”, adds Prof. Johannes Backs. “Our approach has the potential to offer a new, effective and safe treatment, and we are thrilled to be working with the LDC and Novo Nordisk to advance it towards application”.

“We are very excited to enter this collaboration leveraging on decades of research supporting CaMKII as a target in heart failure. This is a unique opportunity to enter a partnership with deep biological understanding and excellent technical skills aiming at discovering novel treatments for patients living with heart failure. This in addition, supports the ambition of Novo Nordisk to deliver disease modifying treatments for patients suffering from this condition”, says Karin Conde-Knape,
SVP of Global Drug Discovery at Novo Nordisk.

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>> Contact
PR Lead Discovery Center
+49 (0)231-97 42 70 00
pr@lead-discovery.de
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About LDC
Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. The LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach robust proof-of-concept in animals. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from academia and industry, the LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of drug candidate compounds with exceptional medical and commercial potential. The LDC has formed alliances with e.g. AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, and sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and KHAN-I GmbH & Co.KG. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.
For more information, please visit: www.lead-discovery.de

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The collaboration builds on the complementary expertise of both organisations. LDC contributes a proven track record in drug discovery and a team of scientists with the expertise and the deep insights necessary to develop assets modulating a range of oncology targets derived from its large academic network. Cumulus Oncology brings a team of successful life science entrepreneurs with a recognised track record in translational oncology drug development, as well as oncologists, scientists and pharma sector business professionals.

This collaboration is based around the reciprocal contribution of each group and the motivation to develop a growing portfolio of small molecule and biological assets with exceptional medical and commercial potential. Each party provides targets and assets in the oncology area for collaboration and potential future company co-creation as well as bringing a wider access to funding partners and collaborators globally.

“We anticipate that joining forces with Cumulus Oncology will leverage early-stage novel oncology approaches from our research networks, turning these early-stage assets into true innovations in cancer research and therapies”, stated Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO of the LDC. “This strategic partnership with one of the leading drug discovery centres in Europe provides a unique opportunity for Cumulus Oncology to fuel its pipeline of next generation novel oncology assets” said Alan Wise, Chairman of Cumulus Oncology.
“We are very much looking forward to working with our colleagues at LDC to the mutual benefit of both our organisations and ultimately to the benefit of the cancer research community, most especially, the patients dealing with a cancer diagnosis” added Clare Wareing, Founder and CEO of Cumulus Oncology.

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> Contact
PR Lead Discovery Center
+49 (0)231-97 42 70 00
pr@lead-discovery.de
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About Cumulus Oncology
Founded in 2017, Cumulus sources novel oncology assets from academic institutes, commercial drug discovery groups and biopharmaceutical companies. The company also identifies novel targets for drug discovery programmes which it supports and collaborates on. Following rigorous due diligence and market assessment activities, negotiations on deal terms and in-depth feasibility on the investment case, selected assets are spun out into newly created companies. These NewCos are managed to key value inflection points by Cumulus which also takes responsibility for further investment into each Newco via its network of VC partners. The founding team consists of successful life science entrepreneurs, oncologists, scientists and other oncology drug development and pharma sector business professionals. Asset classes of interest include small molecules and biologics which target known and novel pathways in cancer, where there is a clear path forward into clinical development, often in molecularly selected sub-groups.
For more information, please visit: www.cumulusoncology.com

About LDC
Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. The LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close> collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, the LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential. The LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society, KHAN-I GmbH & Co.KG and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Apeiron, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.
For more information, please visit: www.lead-discovery.de

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Q702 is an orally available triple kinase inhibitor targeting Axl, Mer and CSF1R. It was discovered at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and further developed at the LDC, before it was licensed to Qurient for further optimization and preclinical and clinical development. The candidate was shown to boost immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and to raise tumor visibility to the immune system. It may provide new options to patients for whom available therapies are ineffective.

For the original press releases, see:

Qurient’s latest press release from January 26th, 2021
Qurient’s and LDC’s press release on IND approval from May 2020

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>> Contact
PR Lead Discovery Center
+49 (0)231-97 42 70 00
pr@lead-discovery.de
# # #

About Qurient
Qurient is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company listed in Korea Exchange (KRX 115180). Qurient mainly focuses on development of novel therapeutics from discovery to human proof of concept stages through virtual R&D project management platform. Qurient currently has three programs in clinical development: Q301, a topical leukotriene inhibitor for atopic dermatitis, completed Phase 2b study; telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for tuberculosis, completed Phase 2 study; and Q702, entering Phase 1/2 study. Qurient recently nominated Q901, a selective CDK7 inhibitor, as a preclinical candidate for solid tumors, which is expected to enter the clinic in 2021. For more info, please visit www.qurient.com.

About LDC
Lead Discovery Center GmbH was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. The Lead Discovery Center takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from academia and industry, the Lead Discovery Center is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential. The Lead Discovery Center sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society, KHAN-I GmbH & Co.KG and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, e.g. In addition,LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation. Further information at: www.lead-discovery.de.

About Max Planck Innovation
Max Planck Innovation (MI) is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With an interdisciplinary team, MI advises and supports scientists at Max Planck Institutes in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. MI offers industry unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus, MI performs an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products that contribute to economic and social progress. Further information at: www.max-planck-innovation.com.

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