The research collaboration will integrate Forge’s expertise in metalloenzymes with Active Motif’s knowledge in epigenetics and related technologies.
Under the alliance, the companies intend to validate emerging epigenetic targets for oncology indications, as well as demonstrate the druggability of Jumonji KDMs.
Forge Therapeutics CEO Zachary Zimmerman said: "Other epigenetic targets such as histone deacetylases and methyl transferases have been validated therapeutically, however the Jumonji KDM family has been lagging behind due to a lack of suitable chemistry and limited biological tools available to early-stage companies.
"The Forge drug discovery engine has generated several full length inhibitors that are selective and potent for individual KDMs and subfamilies of KDMs, and we look forward to probing epigenetic biology using Active Motif’s suite of technologies."
Forge Therapeutics is focused on the discovery of drugs using its novel chemistry platform that targets metalloproteins, which need metal ions for their biological function and make up more than one-third of the proteins in the human body.
The company uses an approach, which features molecular modeling for rational drug design as well as fundamental knowledge and expertise in bioinorganic chemistry to target metalloproteins.
Active Motif is specialized in the development and delivery of tools to allow epigenetics and gene regulation research.
Image: Forge Therapeutics and Active Motif establish epigenetics research collaboration. Photo: courtesy of Photokanok/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.