p300/CBP are twin histone acetyltransferases that act as critical co-regulators of transcriptional networks relevant to cancer. Inhibiting the twin proteins has significant potential for late stage drug resistant prostate cancer, haematological malignancies (MM, AML, lymphomas), as well as certain tumours with specific genetic drivers (incl. bladder, small cell lung, breast cancers). Clinical trials are already well underway across the UK, under the supervision of chief investigators Prof Johann de Bono (The Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research) and Prof Tim Somervaille (The Christie).
CellCentric has had long standing scientific research collaborations in the US, including with Profs Karen Knudsen (SKCC, Thomas Jefferson, PA), Laura Pasqualucci (SKMC, NY), and Leif Bergsagel (Mayo, Phoenix, AZ). Now, in partnership with the PCCTC, the company will be expanding its clinical programme into multiple hospitals. This will help accelerate CCS1477’s progress to clinical proof of concept for multiple applications.
Dr Karen Clegg, CellCentric’s Clinical Operations Director said ‘We are delighted to be working with the PCCTC, not just for our prostate cancer clinical trial expansion, but also for other indications, including haematological malignancies. The PCCTC offers a perfect fit of both US operational capability and clinical research expertise, allowing us to scale efficiently and flexibly.’ Added Jake Vinson, PCCTC CEO, “We are really pleased to be able to bring our expertise to CellCentric’s exciting prostate programme, and to also leverage our operational expertise to support multiple indications across different centres.”
The PCCTC offers multi-centre clinical trials management through its comprehensive suite of contract research organization services. The organisation was originally formed through the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and the U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP). In 2014, the PCCTC became a fully independent entity, and is now the US’s premier clinical research organisation specializing in prostate cancer research, as well as supporting other oncology studies.
About CellCentric
CellCentric is a development stage biotechnology company focused on a first-in-class p300/CBP bromodomain inhibitor drug, CCS1477, to treat specific cancers. The company investigated over 50 potential epigenetic-related drug targets, before focusing on the twin histone acetyl transferases p300/CBP. An earlier programme, based on an arginine methyltransferase target, was licenced to Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
CellCentric is a privately held business, with Morningside Venture Investments as its lead investor. It is UK based (Cambridge; Manchester; Oxford), but with multiple international operations and collaborations.
