Eisai claims total synthesis of halichondrin

Japanese drugmaker Eisai (TYO: 4523) has announced that a joint research group comprising its scientists and Yoshito Kishi’s group at Harvard University has achieved a total synthesis of halichondrin.

They have presented results of nonclinical studies of the novel compound, E7130, derived from total synthesis of halichondrin, and these findings have been published in Scientific Reports, a scientific journal of Nature.

"Organic synthesis has advanced to a level, even with molecular complexity, that was untouchable several years ago"A Phase I study to investigate E7130 in solid tumors is underway in Japan.