As per the terms of the research collaboration and option agreement, Pepscan will utilize its Chemical LInkage of Peptides onto Scaffolds (CLIPS) technology for optimizing novel therapeutic Phylomer drug candidates against CD40-ligand togetherwith Phylogica for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders.
CLIPS is a technology to present one or more peptides in a structurally constrained configuration.
Phylomer peptides are derived from biodiverse natural sequences, which have been selected by evolution to form stable structures, which can bind tightly, and specifically to disease associated target proteins, both inside and outside cells.
Pepscan will have an option to expand the collaboration to include an undisclosed number of other disease-associated targets.
Phylogica CEO Paul Watt said said they believe that the combination of Pepscan’s CLIPS technology with their potent Phylomer peptides will further enhance their ability to generate drug candidates against difficult-to-treat diseases.