Pharma major Nicholas Piramal India Ltd has claimed to have developed a novel anti-cancer drug to arrest and regulate the multiplication of cancer cells.

Described as an important therapeutic advance in the treatment of cancer, the anti-cancer compound -- C 77 Novel cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) inhibitor -- was presented by Dr Kalpana Joshi, principal scientist, at the ongoing International Conference on 'Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics' held in Boston, USA, an NPIL release in Mumbai said.

Cell multiplication is the leading cause of the development of cancer and arresting this was likely to be an important therapeutic advancement in the treatment of cancer, Joshi said.

"NPIL's lead entity (new drug) is a small molecular weight compound that regulates the progression of cells during multiplication," she said.

In a pre-clinical studies conducted at Quest Institute of Life Sciences, the Research and Development centre of Nicholas Piramal, it has been found that the compound arrests multiplication of human tumours (prostate and leukemia) when transplanted into mice capable of harbouring human cancer.

NPIL Chairman Ajay Piramal said, "The world is currently witnessing critical innovations and new knowledge in cancer research. New therapies are available or are in development and we are honoured to be invited to share our work and represent the research capabilities of the nation at this prestigious global forum."

Joshi said the progression through the cell cycle in mammalian cells requires the activation of several cyclin-dependent protein kinases (Cdks) through their association with regulatory subunits called cyclins.

"In our anti-cancer drug discovery programme, a novel series of flavones have been synthesised for evaluation against the activity of Cdk4, we have identified a series of potent Cdk4-D1 inhibitors with IC50 in the range of 1.8 to 250 microns," she added.