Cyclacel

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biotechnology firm based in Dundee, Scotland, and Short Hills, New Jersey, developing cancer drugs and treatments. Cyclacel was founded in 1996 by David Lane, Merlin Ventures and Cancer Research Campaign Technology with the University of Dundee and the University of Glasgow.

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
TypePublic
NASDAQ: CYCC
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded1997
HeadquartersBerkeley Heights, New Jersey, U.S.
Key people
Spiro Rombotis, CEO
David P. Lane, founder
ProductsSeliciclib (CYC202),
Sapacitabine (CYC682),
Aurora kinase inhibitors (CYC116)
US$ 19.7 million (2010)
Number of employees
18 (2011)
Websitehttp://www.cyclacel.com

Major shareholders include Goldman Sachs Group, Tang Capital Management, Redmile Group and Ayer Capital Management.

The firm is developing "mechanism-targeted drugs" to help in the fight of cancer, and other serious illness, such as diabetes and HIV.

Company overview

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing oral therapies that target the various phases of cell cycle control for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. Sir David Lane, a recognized leader in the field of tumor suppressor biology, who discovered the p53 protein, founded the company in 1996. In 1999, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals was joined by David Glover, a recognized leader in the mechanism of mitosis or cell division, who discovered, among other cell cycle targets, the mitotic kinases, Polo and Aurora, enzymes that act in the mitosis phase of the cell cycle.

Three product candidates are currently in clinical development. Sapacitabine (CYC682), a cell cycle modulating nucleoside analogue, is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the elderly under a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Phase 2 studies for myelodysplastic syndromes, lung cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Seliciclib (CYC202 or R-roscovitine), a CDK (cyclin dependent kinase) inhibitor, is in Phase 2 studies for the treatment of lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer and in a Phase 1 trial in combination with sapacitabine. CYC116, an Aurora kinase and VEGFR2 inhibitor, is in a Phase 1 trial in patients with solid tumors. Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals' strategy is to build a diversified biopharmaceutical business focused in hematology and oncology based on a portfolio of commercial products and a development pipeline of novel drug candidates.

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals' ALIGN Pharmaceuticals subsidiary markets directly in the U.S. Xclair Cream for radiation dermatitis, Numoisyn® Liquid and Numoisyn® Lozenges for xerostomia.

Expansion

After becoming the first European spin-out company to raise over $100 million in private equity,[1] the company had to pull out of a stock market listing in July 2004.[2] Cyclacel completed a reverse merger with Xcyte Therapies in December 2005 to acquire Nasdaq listing.[3] This allowed Cyclacel to take advantage of its adopted Nasdaq listing by raising an additional $45 million in April 2006 through a private placement of stock and warrants.

Staff
  • Spiro Rombotis, president and chief executive officer
  • Paul McBarron, executive vice president of finance and chief operating officer
  • Judy Chiao, vice president of clinical development and regulatory affairs
  • Gill Christie, director, human resources
  • Susan Davis, associate director, business development
  • David Glover, FRSE, chief scientist, Polgen

See also

Notes
  1. "Cyclacel completes $39 million private placement". BioPortfolio. 2004. Archived from the original on April 16, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2004.
  2. Nick Bevens (2004). "Cyclacel gets a £5m bail-out". The Scotsman. UK. Retrieved October 10, 2004.
  3. "Xcyte sells off assets". Puget Sound Business Journal. December 15, 2005. Retrieved December 15, 2005.
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