Despite tremendous advances in the development of both cytotoxic and targeted therapies for the treatment of human cancer, there is still a clear need for novel therapeutic approaches. In particular, lack of clinical benefit or the development of resistance under therapy is a phenomenon encountered with many currently marketed treatment modalities

 

Basilea investigates cytotoxic and targeted compounds, with an emphasis on new mechanisms of action and unexploited targets or treatment approaches. Agents with activity in tumors unresponsive to standard therapeutics are of particular interest.

 

The Company’s lead anti-cancer molecule is the tumor cell death inducer BAL101553, which is the prodrug of BAL27862. This compound is a novel, orally bioavailable, small molecule with a unique mechanism of action against a well established target in oncology. It targets tumor cells directly through disruption of the microtubule network, a cellular scaffold essential for cell division. Activity has been shown against a broad range of tumor types, as well as in tumor models known to be unresponsive to standard therapeutics including marketed microtubule-targeting agents such as the taxanes. Intravenous administration is feasible without solubilizing excipients known to be associated with adverse side effect profiles.

 

Scientists at Basilea are using their expertise in cancer biology and medicinal chemistry to develop new chemical scaffolds to target both hematological and solid cancers. A major emphasis is to elicit antitumor responses in refractory settings; addressing unmet medical need while maintaining patient ‘quality of life’. Various strategies are being pursued, building a broad and diverse oncology portfolio which encompasses a number of mechanistic approaches.