Chemical Genomics Approach Could Lead To Nerve Regeneration Drugs
German Biotech companies Morphochem AG and Migragen AG are to collaborate in a discovery and development programme focusing on an area of high unmet medical need: nerve regeneration in spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.
The project is based on Morphochem's chemical genomics programme to generate novel, patentable small molecules through its multi-component reaction (MCR) chemistry approach for known and unknown targets, and Migragen's unique cutting edge biology expertise in neuronal regeneration and cell migration. The collaboration partners will share ownership and revenues for the molecules discovered in the joint programme.
Dr Lutz Weber, CEO of Morphochem, said, "Migragen uniquely fits our vision of applying chemical genomics to validate targets and generate potential drug candidates within a single set of experiments. Migragen's biological assays involve several cell-based and animal models in a highly standardized and quantitative way allowing the identification and optimization of small molecule drug candidates using Morphochem's technology platform."
Dr Bernhard Mueller, CEO of Migragen, said, "With its unique MCR chemistry, Morphochem is an excellent partner for identifying new small molecules directed towards our validated and potentially novel targets. The collaboration between our companies seeks to maximize the synergies between our biological and chemical expertise. We are very optimistic that the collaboration will make a positive contribution to our product pipelines and will minimise the inherent risks of the drug development process."
Morphochem is engaged in a new evolutionary drug discovery process using chemical genomics to discover and develop next generation therapeutics for major disease areas of high unmet medical need such as infection, inflammation, metabolism and cancer.
Migragen is committed to the discovery and development of therapeutics for the treatment of areas of high unmet medical need in CNS injury, degenerative CNS diseases and brain tumours.
www.morphochem.de
www.migragen.de