Cancer Research Technology (CRT) has teamed up with Auckland University to advance the discovery of molecular targeted compounds for the treatment of leukaemia.
Scientists based at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre and at CRT's Discovery Laboratories in London and Cambridge will focus on developing a treatment that will target an enzyme that has been linked to the growth and development of leukaemia cells.
The target enzyme's role in leukaemia was discovered by scientists at Birmingham University, funded by the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity.
A joint effort between CRT's Discovery Laboratories and Dr Christopher Bunce, whose group made the discovery, has led to the identification of a series of compounds that will form the basis of this UK-New Zealand collaboration.
Work at Auckland University is supported by a pre-seed investment from Auckland Uniservices, the university's commercial research and knowledge transfer company.
CRT retains exclusive rights to commercialise the intellectual property arising from this deal.
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow that is characterised by the uncontrolled growth of blood cells - usually white blood cells.
Prof Bill Denny, co-director of the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre in the School of Medical Sciences, said: 'Growing evidence is showing that targeting this important enzyme has the potential to lead us to new treatments for leukaemia and potentially other cancers.
'The first step will be to generate improved compounds, which could ultimately move into preclinical development,' he added.
