Oncology and Immuno-oncology
Modern cancer medicines that target precise mutations or boost the immune system have greatly improved the prospects of many patients. But cures remain rare, despite significant ongoing research with the aim of improving patient outcomes.
Sygnature’s scientists work across the entire span of oncology drug discovery, all the way from target identification and lead optimisation through to candidate nomination and clinical positioning. The medicinal chemists, DMPK and bioscientists at Sygnature Discovery and the in vivo specialists in our translational oncology department work in integrated teams to deliver tailored services for clients.
Patients remain at the heart of every project. Cancer is no longer considered a single disease, and with that in mind our scientists work seamlessly alongside expert colleagues in inflammation, the immune system and neurological. This wider expertise helps accelerates the delivery of candidates, particularly for immuno-oncology and CNS cancer projects.
Our bioscientists are skilled in creating robust, tailored in vitro screening cascades, and state-of-the-art technologies and orthogonal biophysics platforms allow decision-enabling data to be delivered rapidly. A variety of cell culture formats enable focused experiments to be carried out to help in the lead triage process. And our in-house human Blood Donor Panel gives easy access to immune and inflammatory cells from volunteer blood.
What sets us apart is the deep experience that our scientists have gained across the breadth of oncology drug discovery, and a collective knowledge base that informs decisions. Over the years, we have helped deliver five clinical candidates in the oncology arena.
Oncology Assays and Capabilities
In vitro assays to support oncology programmes include:
- 2D and 3D Proliferation assays
- Apoptosis assays
- Biomarker analysis
- Cell Imaging
Cell culture formats our scientists use include:
- 3D spheroids
- Primary cells
- Co-cultures
Platform techniques for immuno-oncology projects include:
- In-House Blood Donor Panel
- Multiplex Flow Cytometry
- Cytokine release assays
- Immune Cell Functional Assays
In vivo models available from the translational team:
- PK/PD
- Efficacy studies
- Biomarker analysis
Success stories in oncology
These case studies tell the story of some of Sygnature’s successes in the oncology field:
- Corcept Therapeutics – Gluticocorticoid receptor antagonists
- CellCentric – EP300/CBP inhibitors
- Fragment-based hit discovery and optimisation against BRD3
