Axikin and Proteros announce research service collaboration

Under the terms of this collaboration, Proteros will provide multi-disciplinary research teams with the aim of generating multiple advanced lead series inhibiting a novel proprietary target protein.

In the initial stages of the program Proteros shall solve the X-ray structure of Axikin’s novel protein, develop assays and identify active fragments from screening the unique Proteros fragment library and determine the binding mode of the fragments to the target protein by deploying Proteros’s industrial crystallography platform, said Proteros fragments.

In the second phase of the program, Proteros’s medicinal chemists will, supported by on demand structural information, evolve the selected fragments into novel lead series meeting specific criteria including demonstrated activity and selectivity.

Proteros will receive undisclosed research fees and success milestone payments, including additional milestone payments if compounds arising out of the collaboration advance to clinical development.

Kevin Bacon, chief scientific officer of Axikin, said: “We have entered this strategic collaboration with Proteros as we are convinced that their integrated, structure guided approach together with unique compound and fragment library, effective screening technologies, world-class crystallography and expert medical chemistry will allow us to achieve our objectives of generating novel chemical leads in the most efficient way.”