Current Research Programme

• Development of drugs that reversibly bind to DNA and inhibit the action of topoisomerase DNA regulatory enzymes. Examples are the drugs are XR-11576 and MLN-944, now in clinical trial.
  
  
• Development of anti-vascular agents which activate host cells to produce factors that shut down blood vessels in tumours. An example is the drug DMXAA, now in clinical trial.
  
  
• Development of drugs which irreversibly shut down growth signalling pathways in tumour cells. An example is the drug Canertinib, now in clinical trial.
  
  
• Development of non-toxic pro-drugs capable of being “switched on” selectively within the oxygen-starved (hypoxic) cells that occur only in solid tumours. An example of this type of drug is planned to begin clinical trials in NZ in 2006.