Debiopharm & Ascepion to Collaborate on New Oncology Drug

Swiss-based Debiopharm Group and China's Ascepion Pharmaceuticals hope to bring a new anti-cancer drug to market.

Biopharmaceutical development specialist Debiopharm Group has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ascepion Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialise a potential new anti-cancer therapy.

The agreement concerns a multikinase inhibitor called ASP-08126 (Debio 1144), which binds and inhibits a number of tyrosine kinase oncogenes involved in the growth and spread of tumours, as well as the development of blood vessels required for tumour survival.

ASP-08126 is currently in pre-clinical development but is expected to be effective against various solid tumours, either as monotherapy or in combination with existing therapies.

Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, president and founder of Sw