CellCentric, the world-leading epigenetics company based in Cambridge UK, has announced details of a significant deal, which takes epigenetic science closer towards clinical application and commercialisation in the field of cancer.  The company has a considerable IP resource in novel epigenetic targets.  It is from this portfolio that CellCentric has granted to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited an exclusive licence to develop a key cancer programme

Focused on fate

Many diseases, including cancer, involve a loss of control over cell fate: the expression of genes. In many cases this is associated with aberrant epigenetic changes to chromatin: dynamic modifications of DNA and its associated proteins, including histones. These epigenetic alterations are caused by a range of enzymes. Initial therapeutic interest has been focused on inhibiting HDACs (histone deacetylases) and DNMTs (DNA methyltransferases).  However, it has become increasingly clear that there are many other key epigenetic related enzymes that can be targeted and which may offer greater specificity of action. These include histone methyltransferases, demethylases and ubiquitin-related enzymes.  It is at this more specific level of control that CellCentric has particular strengths.

CellCentric's Business model 

CellCentric has an innovation platform built upon relationships with over 30 world leading research labs in epigenetics. The company has identified and prioritised multiple next generation targets and runs a series of active drug discovery programmes from its centre in Cambridge, UK.  As its programmes move forward, the company is able to gain continued benefit and support from multiple Principal Investigators within its network.  With an extensive portfolio and rich pipeline, CellCentric’s strategy is to develop some target programmes through licences and collaborations with Pharmaceutical companies while retaining other programmes for development itself. Besides projects related to reprogramming and epigenetic tools, CellCentric has 7 ongoing novel target discovery programmes focused on cancer.

The Takeda deal

Under the terms of their agreement, CellCentric will receive from Takeda an upfront payment and pre-clinical and clinical milestones, in addition to royalties. Based on the royalties and milestones defined, the overall deal could be worth in excess of $200m to CellCentric over the course of the agreement.

Wider significance 

The CellCentric-Takeda deal is significant to stem cell science and regenerative medicine in that it highlights the power of technologies that determine cell fate at the level of the gene: whether that control serves to prescribe tissue type or to control of cancer.  Of more direct relevance, the deal is important in focusing on more specific factors,- demonstrating the commercial interest in novel epigenetic targets beyond HDACs  and DNMTs. Therapeutic research will be initiated by Takeda’s Research Group. Development of molecules stemming from this agreement will be completed by Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, which is responsible for Takeda’s global oncology development strategy.  

Dr Hiroyuki Odaka, General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Research Division of Takeda said “Epigenetics is an important area for novel oncology therapeutics.  This new agreement demonstrates our commitment to researching and pioneering the best ways to treat cancer.”
 
Dr Will West, CEO of CellCentric added “This licence is a strong endorsement of the way we are approaching innovation in epigenetics. This is an area that is no longer seen as just interesting, but as a necessity for pharmaceutical companies growing their armoury for tackling intractable diseases such as cancer”.

Epigenetics in Cambridge

Cambridge was the birthplace of epigenetics and remains at its leading edge.

The term "epigenetics" was coined by the great developmental biologist, Conrad Waddington, at the end of the 1930s, while employed as a lecturer in Zoology at the Strangeways Research Laboratory.  Waddington demonstrated the effects of cytoplasm upon cell nuclei.  Convinced of the centrality of genetics after visiting T.H. Morgan's laboratory, he contrived to understand development in Drosophila by a systematic approach to mutation.  Working without the toolkit of modern molecular biology, Waddington presented a scheme that substantially set out the working concepts of genetic control.

Today, Cambridge continues to stand at the forefront of this key area of biology and biomedicine, with important research being conducted at the University of Cambridge and at the nearby Babraham Institute.