INTERVIEW: E-Therapeutics Readies Trials, Seeks Alliances

By Jason Douglas Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--U.K. drug developer e-Therapeutics PLC (ETX.LN) Tuesday said its focus this year and next will be on clinical trials of its experimental medicines and securing alliances with pharmaceutical companies. E-Therapeutics, which uses complex computer software to identify promising drug candidates, is aiming to begin early-stage human trials of experimental treatments for cancer and hospital bug c. difficile by 2011, Chief Executive Malcolm Young told Dow Jones Newswires. Results will likely be known later in 2011 or early 2012. Partner Khandelwal Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, or KLAB, is poised to begin Phase III studies in India of medicines for asthma and depression in 2010 and 2011, Young said. He added that the company is talking to pharmaceutical companies about possible alliances. These could include deals on specific drugs or broader alliances involving the use of e-Therapeutics' proprietary technology to screen drug candidates for promise in certain diseases or likely side effects, said Young. -By Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9272; jason.douglas@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 29, 2010 07:06 ET (11:06 GMT)