Abcam has entered into an exclusive license, supply, and distribution agreement with Children’s Cancer Institute for multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) inhibitors Ceefourin™ 1 and Ceefourin 2, for cancer therapeutic research. The institute, based in Australia and dedicated to childhood cancer research, developed Ceefourin 1 and Ceefourin 2, which it describes as the first known selective inhibitors of MRP4.
A member of the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily of membrane pumps, MRP4, according to Children’s Cancer Institute, is a protein that gives off elements that can be toxic to cells, protecting it from chemical build-ups and from xenobiotics such as environmental toxins. Cancer cells can, the institute says, hijack MRP4 and other ABC transporter family members, forcing them to pump out the chemotherapy drugs that should normally treat the cancer.
Per the agreement, Abcam is now offering researchers access to Ceefourin 1 (ab145144), a benzothiazol compound, and Ceefourin 2 (ab145145), a pyrazolopyrimidine compound, both of which can inhibit MRP4-mediated substrate efflux. Abcam and the institute believe that these compounds, when used together, provide cancer researchers a complementary toolset.
“We are delighted to be able to make these research reagents available to the scientific community worldwide through our partnership with Abcam,” Murray Norris, Ph.D., lead researcher and Children’s Cancer Institute deputy director, said in a statement. “These compounds will enable researchers to obtain new insights into MRP4 function and to modulate extracellular drug transport.”
Life sciences commericalization company Bio-Link Australia facilitated the license agreement.