Research and Markets: The Competitor Analysis Report on Plk-1 Inhibitors Provides a Competitor Evaluation in the Field of Synthetic Molecules Targeting the for Treatment of Cancer

DUBLIN--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fa0ebe/competitor_analysi) has
announced the addition of the "Competitor Analysis: Plk-1 Inhibitors" report to
their offering.

The present Competitive Intelligence Report about Plk-1 Inhibitors provides a
competitor evaluation in the field of synthetic molecules targeting the
polo-like kinase 1 for treatment of cancer as of May 2009.

Polo-like kinase (Plk) is an important cell cycle regulatory kinase that has
been implicated in a multitude of cell cycle events. Plks form a family of four
different proteins that regulates many aspects of the cell cycle progression.
They all share small conserved domains named polo-box required fort protein
localization. Only Plk1 that is the most extensively studied, is a true mitotic
kinase homolog to the Drosophila polo kinase. Plk2, Plk3 and Plk4 are more
likely involved only in interphase.

Plk1 kinase activity peaks in mitosis. The kinase plays multiple roles during
mitosis; it participates to the G2/M transition, its inhibition delays entry in
mitosis. Over-expression of Plk1 in rodent cells is sufficient to confer a
transform phenotype indicating that Plk1 is a potential oncogene. Plk1 has been
found overexpressed in a large variety of cancers. And high level of Plk1 is a
sign of bad prognosis in several cancers. Beside over-expression, mutation in
Plk1 has been observed in cancers. These data designed Plk1 as a good target for
inhibitors used as anti-cancer drugs. And indeed inhibition of Plk1 was reported
to have different effects in cancer cells versus normal cells. Inhibition of
Plk1 arrests tumour cells in culture as well as it reduces tumour growth in mice
indicating that the kinase is absolutely required for cells that highly
proliferate.

Boehringer Ingelheim is a pioneer in the field with first-in-class Plk1
inhibitors now in phase II clinical investigation. Several other clinical stage
projects are following and much more companies are in preclinical R&D stage with
their Plk1 inhibitor discovery programs.

The report includes a compilation of current active projects in research and
development of selective Plk-1inhibitors. In addition, the report lists
company-specific R&D pipelines of polo-like kinase-1 targeting molecules.
Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:

* Drug Codes,
* Target / Mechanism of Action,
* Class of Compound,
* Company,
* Product Category,
* Indication,
* R&D Stage and
* additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information

Key Topics Covered:

* Plk-1 Inhibitors in Oncology
* Corporate Plk-1 Inhibitor R&D Pipelines
* About La Merie

For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fa0ebe/competitor_analysi

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager, press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2009