C4X enters into new research agreement with Evotec

RNS Number : 4434C

C4X Discovery Holdings PLC

19 January 2015

 



C4X Discovery Holdings plc  

enters into new research agreement with Evotec AG

Manchester and London, UK, 19 January, 2015 - C4X Discovery Holdings plc (C4XD), a leader in rational drug discovery and design, announced today that it has entered into a research agreement with Evotec. Under the agreement C4XD's proprietary NMR-based technology and conformational design expertise will combine with Evotec's extensive biology and chemistry expertise. The aim is to develop several series of Orexin-1 selective inhibitors, building on elements of the substantial work which C4XD has previously conducted in the field of specific Orexin inhibitors.

Activation of the orexin-1 receptor in the brain is associated with stress related addictive disorders (e.g. for alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and opiates), while the activation of the orexin-2 receptor is associated with biorhythms and wakefulness. Identification and development of selective compounds that inhibit the orexin-1 pathway thus should provide treatments for addiction avoiding the sedative effects associated with inhibition of orexin-2.

C4XD has the only technology in the world that can generate accurate, experimentally-derived dynamic solution 3D structures of drug molecules in just a matter of days, helping to accelerate product development. It can be used in conjunction with existing technologies for structure-based drug design and can make a particularly high impact when protein crystallography is not routinely available, as is the case for GPCRs (such as Orexin receptors) and ion channels.

The technology can also be applied to help identify and generate novel crystal polymorph forms, with exciting potential applications in the life cycle management of existing branded pharmaceuticals.

Piers Morgan, CEO of C4XD, said "Through this collaboration with Evotec, we expect our novel biological discoveries and medical insights will be effectively and efficiently progressed into a state-of-the-art drug discovery and development programme. The collaboration is already demonstrating the benefit of an alliance in accelerating drug discovery projects."

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec said "We are delighted to work with C4XD on this strategic collaboration. C4XD have an exciting technology that can really revolutionise how rational drug design is conducted, particularly on targets like Orexin where the conformation of drug-like ligands is particular important to on-target potency. With Evotec's complementary expertise in computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology we look forward to help drive C4XD's objective to develop compounds to treat addictive disorders."

No financial details were disclosed.

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For further information please contact:

C4X Discovery Ltd

Piers Morgan, CEO                                                                        07912 293832

Zeus Capital

Ross Andrews/Dan Bate                                                               0161 831 1512

Dominic Wilson                                                                              020 7533 7727

FTI Consulting

Matthew Cole / Ben Atwell / Matthew Moss,                                   020 3727 1000

[e-mail]

About C4X Discovery Holdings plc

C4XD is a Manchester-based company focused on optimising drug discovery and design. It was founded in 2008 as a spin-out from the University of Manchester. The company uses its NMR-based technology to solve the dynamic 3D structures of a broad range of biomolecules, including peptides, cofactors, oligonucleotides and carbohydrates. Since C4XD's NMR technology shows what shapes active molecules prefer to adopt, it provides high-quality templates for drug discovery and design, and valuable information for drug candidate optimisation. In addition, the data is generated faster and more reliably than standard techniques such as X-ray co-crystallography or molecular modelling. C4XD is using its technology in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry and to build its own proprietary pipeline of high-value therapeutic candidates. For additional information please go to

 www.c4xdiscovery.com 

About Evotec

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology, inflammation and infectious diseases. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Roche and UCB. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and pre-clinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim and MedImmune in the field of diabetes, with Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of depression and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.

 

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