Biopharma company enters partnership to support discovery and development of anti-cancer medicine

Artelo Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company, has entered into a global research and development partnership with India-based integrated discovery-development service provider, Syngene, and UK-based specialist CRO, Aptus Clinical.

This partnership will focus on supporting the drug discovery and clinical development of Artelo’s Phase II ready, high-potency dual cannabinoid agonist, in oncology, ART27.13.

“ART27.13 represents an important new therapeutic class of anti-cancer medicine. While a lot is already known about the drug’s pre-clinical and clinical profile, we believe working alongside proven global talent will ensure that our new insights into ART27.13 are rapidly transitioned into the clinic,” stated Andrew Yates, PhD, ART27.13 programme leader. “This partnership is a premier example of how global partners with a common interest can be harnessed inside the exciting R&D environment in the United Kingdom.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Syngene will be the discovery and development partner providing a pre-clinical data package to support the advancement of ART27.13 for anti-cancer indications. Aptus Clinical will develop and design an anti-cancer clinical study that is scientifically credible, ethically acceptable and operationally deliverable. It will also provide clinical development and regulatory expertise to the partnership. Previously, Arteloestablished a UK subsidiary at the Alderley Park BioHub in Cheshire, where Dr Yates directs the ART27.13 programme.

“It is an honour to be a part of such an innovative delivery model that globally integrates the best in drug discovery and clinical development expertise to support Artelo in its efforts to develop future novel oncology drugs for the benefit of patients,” stated Steve McConchie, CEO of Aptus Clinical.

Dr Manoj Nerurkar, chief operating officer, SyngeneInternational added: “We are happy to partner with Artelo in developing ART27.13 for anti-cancer indications. Oncology is one of the focus areas for Syngene and this global partnership will help us harness our individual expertise to develop a better product for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide.”