IKK-alpha is a validated target in metastatic prostate cancer. It’s a kinase enzyme that switches on the migratory potential of the prostate cancer and we are trying to develop small molecules that selectively inhibit that particular kinase over other kinases to reduce the off-target effects.

And how far have you got?

Well, we are now in the position where we have a small molecule that is active in all of the models that we have tested it against and our challenge now is to improve its water solubility so that we can develop an oral therapy.

How will this agent affect treatment?

That’s a very interesting question. We have shown through clinical evidence that IKK-alpha is involved at the progression stage of hormone naïve to castrate resistant. So if we can administer the drug at that time then the potential is to actually prevent the formation of the metastatic disease as opposed to trying to treat the metastatic form.

What message do you have for doctors about this?

I guess what I would say is that what the meeting is demonstrating is that analysis of all of the data that’s coming out from long-term drug treatment is crucial to improving the therapy. The meta-analysis that the group at IPRI have been conducting is crucial to the development of any drug treatment, whether it’s future drug treatment or existing drug treatment. Combining that into the initial discovery phase and the patient stratification etc. is absolutely essential for any therapy that we’re going to develop.