Beactica awarded funding to develop epigenetic cancer drugs

Beactica, the Swedish fragment-based drug discovery company, today announced that it has been awarded a SEK 3.0 million grant from the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA). The grant will be used to support the development of a new epigenetic drug for treatment of cancer.

Specifically, the goal of Beactica's project is to develop novel compounds for epigenetic regulation of various cancer forms through selective and reversible inhibition of lysine-specific histone demethylases. A growing amount of research shows that inhibitors of this enzyme class can be used for the treatment of several common cancers. Furthermore, these enzymes are also important in other diseases which potentially could give Beactica's compounds wider applications.

"We are very pleased that Beactica's epigenetic project was selected for this highly competitive grant. It validates our achievements to date and will support our excellent scientists in efficiently progressing this important cancer programme over the next year” said Dr Per Källblad, CEO of Beactica.

For additional information please contact Dr Per Källblad, Beactica CEO, +46 18 560880.

About epigenetics

The field of epigenetics involves studies of heritable traits resulting from altered gene expression not caused by changes to the DNA sequence but from changes in the structure of DNA or its availability for transcription. Enzymes responsible for chemical modification of DNA or proteins binding to DNA are potential drug targets. The field of epigenetic drug discovery is quickly developing and is recognized to be important for understanding not only cancer but also many other diseases. It is therefore of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry today and several drugs interfering with epigenetic modifications are already in the clinic.

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