Zealand, D. E. Shaw Research partner to develop peptide drug

This collaboration focuses on the pairing of D. E. Shaw Research’s capabilities for conducting long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations with Zealand’s established in-house expertise in peptide drug innovation and development.

The new approach to peptide drug is designed to form a new basis in order to develop peptide-based medicines with enhanced selectivity, potency, and efficacy.

As per the agreement, a pilot phase will use D. E. Shaw’s computer-based simulation technology and modeling expertise for explaining peptide-receptor interactions and peptide movements which lead to selective receptor activation.

Zealand president and CEO David Solomon said that the agreement is an embodiment of the company’s strategy to apply a partner-focused approach in its continued efforts to push the boundaries for designing peptide drugs and expand their therapeutic use.

Both the companies agreed on an undisclosed receptor target of therapeutic relevance in the field of cardio-metabolic diseases.

Various peptides such as natural ligands, reference compounds, and compounds designed by Zealand, will be selected jointly by the companies for in-depth study.
Zealand will generate affinity and efficacy data for these ligands, and D. E. Shaw Research will use their computational methods to explore likely binding modes of these molecules on the selected target.

The pilot phase’s objective is to establish evidence for the synergistic value of combining computational simulations with rational design and experimental screening as a general new approach to be applied to the design of peptide drugs.