Alchemia collaborates on SK1

Unlisted biotech SDP Technology and Brisbane-based Alchemia have entered into a drug discovery agreement in which SDP has exclusive rights to develop anti-cancer drugs identified by Alchemia’s chemistry platform VAST to target the SK1 enzyme.

SK1, or sphingosine kinase 1, is a signal transduction molecule that plays a role in a pro-survival pathway and has been linked to cancer development and progression.

Many research groups and companies are hunting for SK1 inhibitors. SDP has screened a library of compounds synthesised by Alchemia to inhibit kinases.

Under the deal, SDP will have rights to structural data and to develop molecules using the VAST chemistry. Alchemia will be granted five per cent of SDP, with more to come if molecules make it to the clinic.

SDP, formerly known as Tissue Engineering Services Australia and Cellular Therapeutics Australia, was initially formed in Adelaide to commercialise research from the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Sciences (IMVS). Its principal scientists are Dr Stuart Pitson and Dr Claudine Bonder from the IMVS.

The company has an interest in Oncaidia, which was spun-out from LabTech Systems to develop an antibody to detect cancer in 2006.

Alchemia is currently working on a synthetic heparin called fondaparinux and developing HA-irinotecan, a chemotherapy drug combined with hyaluronic acid, into the clinic.