Provence Technologies and NexGenix Announce Successful Lead Compound Development
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Provence Technologies and NexGenix Pharmaceuticals have announced a successful collaboration for the production of NexGenix's lead compound.
NexGenix and Provence Technologies have been collaborating on the synthesis optimization and pre industrialization of this innovative molecule targeting Hsp90.
Hsp90 is a member of the heat shock protein family which assists in protein folding, cell signaling, and tumor repression and is a novel target for oncology and neurodegenerative disorders.
The new generation molecule, initially developed by Prof Nicolas Winssinger at Université de Strasbourg, has demonstrated efficacy in numerous oncology models.
"Thanks to Provence Technologies' expertise in fine organic synthesis and the optimization of challenging reaction conditions, our team has managed to significantly improve the reaction route and conditions for a successful process transfer to a larger scale cGMP facility," said Dr Babak Sayah, COO of Provence Technologies.
Dr Sayah continued, "An approach involving constant and rigorous project management allowed Provence Technologies' team to bring NexGenix's compound to a very advanced stage. We put the same level of commitment into the management of NexGenix's project as we put into our own R&D programs."
Working within very tight schedules, Provence Technologies have successfully produced material required for preclinical testing and IND enabling studies, to enable NexGenix to achieve its IND filing goals.
"Working with Provence Technologies has given us the opportunity to achieve our timelines for our lead program, while at the same time using their substantial experience to reduce costs in the process, even at this early stage of development," said Allan Rubenstein, NexGenix's CEO.
Provence Technologies works on the basis that having a good molecule for a precisely characterized in-vitro target is not enough to make a successful drug.
If process issues are not identified at a very early stage of the development program, if the chemical pathway is not designed and optimized to allow process improvements to be planned and realized for the future, and if production cannot be maintained through the early phase of the development cycle, the chances of project failure are high - even if the compound proves itself to be very active.
Provence Technologies will attend Bio 2011 in Washington from June 27th to June 30th.
