"Signaling through the WNT pathway is critical to uncontrolled cell proliferation in a number of tumor types, particularly colorectal cancer. In some cases the WNT pathway is permanently switched on by mutations in components of this signaling cascade, leading to uncontrolled growth," noted Prof. Julian Blagg, the project 's lead scientist at ICR, in the news release about the new licensing deal and collaboration. "In a fast-moving and successful collaboration, we have discovered small-molecule modulators of cancer cell signaling and we are excited by the opportunity to further progress this work in collaboration with Merck Serono. The announcement today helps to bring us a step closer to new treatments for cancer patients."  

 

L'Huillier notes that while the work between the organizations will no doubt involve outside parties, such as contract research organizations and others that can help move the work along, there are no plans to involve any other partners in the collaboration deal. Details of the work to come are still being mapped out, so L'Huillier couldn't comment on the specific next steps in the process.

 

 

"In the end, though, we are just very pleased to see a very early-stage collaboration extend out and to see the fruits of that taken on by our commercial partner," L'Huillier says. "From our perspective, that is very rewarding and a strong validation of the quality of our work together."