Boehringer Ingelheim Partners with Vanderbilt University to Develop Ras Inhibitors

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) announced on Jan. 14, 2015 that it entered into a partnership with Vanderbilt University to research and develop small molecule inhibitors of oncogenic Ras for the treatment of cancer. As part of the alliance, BI will work with the cancer drug discovery laboratory of Professor Stephen W. Fesik, PhD, the Orrin H. Ingram, II chair in cancer research and professor of biochemistry, pharmacology, and chemistry.

“Dr. Fesik is a pioneer in the discovery of small molecules that bind to and inhibit challenging drug target proteins. The combination of his lab’s novel techniques and the resources and expertise of Boehringer Ingelheim will result in a powerful drug discovery team,” said Lawrence J. Marnett, PhD, the Mary Geddes Stahlman Professor of Cancer Research, University Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry, and newly appointed associate vice chancellor for Research for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in a press release.

According to the National Institute of Health, Ras oncogenes make up the most frequently mutated class (comprised of H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras) of oncogenes, resulting in 33% of human cancers. The most commonly mutated form is K-Ras, occurring in pancreas, colon, biliary tract, and lung adenocarcinomas.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim