AKT (also known as PKB) is an enzyme that plays a key role in a mechanism that many cancer cells rely on to survive, grow and resist treatment. AKT inhibitors are a new type of targeted drug that could block the growth of a wide range of cancers. The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has been instrumental in discovering and trialling these drugs.
Professor Paul Workman FRS FMedSci is Team Leader in Signal Transduction & Molecular Pharmacology at ICR. He was also Chief & Executive and President of ICR from 2014-2021 & led what is now the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery for two decades, resulting in 13 clinical candidates. Paul was actively involved in the research leading to the discovery of the AKT inhibitor capivasertib, currently undergoing Priority Review at the FDA. He will describe the ICR team’s laboratory-based work on the basic science, drug discovery and biomarker development that led to this achievement.
Professor Nick Turner PhD FRCP FMedSci Team Leader in the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at ICR and Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital, will present his research on clinical studies on AKT inhibitors.