Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2, 2008 – Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global independent biopharmaceutical development specialist focusing on serious medical conditions and particularly oncology, today announced the signature of a research project with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), aimed at the identification of novel small molecules and peptides that interfere with pathways controlling cell fate specification. The project, named Debio 0826, could lead to the development of potential therapeutic compounds and to the identification of new targets to fight cancer stem cells.
Following the signature of an EPFL-Debiopharm partnership on February 12, this first joint research project will be performed under the supervision of Dr. Freddy Radtke, Associate Professor at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) and Dr. Gerardo Turcatti, MER, Director of the Biomolecular Screening Facility (BSF), two groups at the EPFL. Debio 0826 will benefit from the multiple molecular and genetic tools generated by Dr. Radtke’s group over the past 10 years, as well as the expertise of Dr. Turcatti in the molecular screening field.
“Targeting pathways controlling cell fate specification could generate innovative anti-cancer drugs with anti-tumoural, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic properties to treat tumours that are currently resistant to standard therapies,” said Kamel Besseghir, CEO of Debiopharm S.A.
About Debiopharm Group
Debiopharm Group is a global biopharmaceutical development specialist that in-licenses promising biologics and small molecule drug candidates. Debiopharm develops its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential for out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.
Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm has developed three products with global combined sales in excess of $2.65 billion in 2007.