Cytopia strengthens deals with US biotech Chemicon

Immune disease drug discovery company Cytopia has again joined forces with Californian life sciences group Chemicon International, this time to develop and commercialise recombinant protein kinases.

The Melbourne company, which is a 90 per cent owned subsidiary of Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA), struck the deal at Bio 2002 in Toronto.

It is the company's second deal with Chemicon, with Cytopia last year granting the US group an exclusive sub-licence for the production and commercialisation of a range of antibodies to its proprietary kinase targets.

Under the latest agreement, Cytopia will produce a range of protein kinases while Chemicon has agreed to manufacture antibodies that can be used in drug discovery, cancer studies and cell signalling research.

In return, Cytopia will receive royalties on the sale of the antibodies.

Announcing the collaboration, Cytopia's CEO Dr Kevin Healey said the company was pleased to be expanding its existing relationship with Chemicon.

"Cytopia's expertise in cloning and production of kinase proteins will be complimented by Chemicon's proprietary protein purification and antibody production technology to develop a high-quality product range," Healey said.

Protein kinases have been found to trigger intracellular signalling that can result in the activation of genes to regulate cancer cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, cell migration and tumour drug resistance.

Compounds that target protein kinase-dependent cellular pathways have been identified and validated as promising therapeutic agents in anti-cancer therapy.

Cytopia's drug discovery focus is in the area of cancer and immune diseases, with the company holding a global licence from the Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research to several JAK kinase targets.

Last month the company lodged applications for provisional Australian and US patents on two new compounds, found to 'switch off' cancer-causing molecules, for the treatment of prostate cancer and other immune diseases.

Chemicon is a privately owned company involved in research and diagnostic products with a focus on cancer and infectious disease.

Its portfolio of proprietary technologies includes methods for making fusion proteins, leukaemia inhibitory factor and bioluminescence proteins, with manufacturing facilities in the US, Australia and the United Kingdom.