Evgen Pharma said on Tuesday, as part of the agreement, Imperial will negotiate an exclusive licence giving Evgen Pharma rights to exploit any intellectual property resulting from the research collaboration.
The objective of the collaboration is to use advanced chemical proteomics technology to detect targets for SFX-01 and other sulforaphane analogues in live cells or tissues in specific disease model systems. This would provide greater understanding of the mechanism of action and contribute data important for current and future clinical development, the company said.
In January, Evgen announced SFX-01 potently suppressed activated STAT3 in patient-derived tumours treated with endocrine treatment, which may explain how SFX-01 reverses the resistance to hormone treatment seen in oestrogen-receptor positive ER+ breast cancers.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with Professor Tate, whose innovations in the field of chemical proteomics provide the opportunity to improve our knowledge of SFX-01's mechanism of action in cancer and neurology. Meanwhile, we look forward to our first phase II clinical data from SFX-01 in breast cancer in the first half of this year, when we will announce the interim readout from our ongoing STEM trial," said Evgen Pharma CEO Steve Franklin.
Shares in Evgen were up 1.1% at