CuraGen Corporation and TopoTarget A/S have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) relating to PXD101, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor.

PXD101, which is being co- developed by CuraGen and TopoTarget for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers, is currently in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of advanced multiple myeloma.

Under the CRADA, the DCTD, NCI, and TopoTarget will collaborate to conduct preclinical and non-clinical studies on PXD101 in order to better understand the anti-tumour activity of PXD101 and to provide supporting information for clinical trials of the therapy. An additional goal will be to select the best next-generation of HDAC inhibitors to be developed as potential drug candidates from TopoTarget's library of HDAC inhibitors, including compounds exhibiting HDAC subtype selectivity. Under the license and collaboration agreement between CuraGen and TopoTarget, CuraGen has an exclusive option to select additional HDAC compounds from TopoTarget's library for clinical development, including those identified under the CRADA with the DCTD, release from Curagen said.

Timothy M. Shannon, executive vice president research and development and chief medical officer at CuraGen says, "The CRADA also complements the Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) signed by CuraGen and the NCI last August, as both collaborative relationships will assist in developing PXD101 for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers."

PXD101 is a small molecule HDAC inhibitor being investigated for its role in the treatment of a wide range of solid and hematologic malignancies either as a single-agent, or in combination with other active anti-cancer agents, and is currently being evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of multiple myeloma.