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Singapore develops new cancer drug

Xinhua, July 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Scientists in Singapore have developed a new cancer drug, according to a press release by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Duke- National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS) on Thursday.

The drug, ETC-159, is the first publicly-funded drug candidate developed in Singapore to advance into first-in-human trials, and will target a range of cancers.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore, accounting for 30 percent of deaths in 2013 and results in 8.2 million deaths world-wide, the statement said.

ETC-159 targets a number of cancers including colorectal, ovarian and pancreatic cancers which contribute to a significant proportion of Singapore's cancer burden.

These cancers are linked to a group of cell signalling pathways known as Wnt signalling, that have been identified to promote cancer growth and spread when elevated or dysregulated.

As ETC-159 is an inhibitor of these pathways, it could suppress cancer proliferation and prevent cancer progression.

The statement also announced the start of a Phase I clinical trial of the drug candidate. The Phase I clinical trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of ETC-159 in advanced solid tumours of up to 58 patients.

ETC-159 was discovered and developed through a collaboration between A*STAR's Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), Drug Discovery and Development (D3) unit and Duke-NUS. Endi