AACR -91st meeting. Interview with Dr Lars Breimer

A number of novel compounds generated much interest and discussion at the AACR Meeting in San Francisco. Among these was a novel cell cycle inhibitor from F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Ro-31-7453. The synthesis and preclinical investigations conducted with this compound had not been discussed in public before the AACR meeting. Roche has quite clearly been keeping developments relating to this compound very confidential since the compound progressed as far as phase I trials before any public disclosures were made. In an interview, Dr Lars Breimer (Roche Products Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, UK), explained why Ro-31- 7453 should be generating so much interest at the AACR, and how cell cycle inhibition is proving to be an attractive target for drug development.