Euroscreen Enters Collaboration with Cephalon, Inc. to Discover GPCR-Directed Small Molecule Products
Euroscreen s.a. today announced a collaboration with Cephalon, Inc. to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors, or GPCR, a family of receptors that play a major role in cell signaling. The companies will apply Euroscreens AequoScreen proprietary functional assay technology in their efforts to generate novel small molecule leads across a broad range of GPCR targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Euroscreen will receive upfront and R&D payments with the potential for additional payments for successful programs. Euroscreen retains the right to aspects of the program that are not pursued by Cephalon in this collaboration.
Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) December 22, 2004 -- Euroscreen s.a. today announced a collaboration with Cephalon, Inc. to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors, or GPCR, a family of receptors that play a major role in cell signaling.
The companies will apply Euroscreens AequoScreen proprietary functional assay technology in their efforts to generate novel small molecule leads across a broad range of GPCR targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Euroscreen will receive upfront and R&D payments with the potential for additional payments for successful programs. Euroscreen retains the right to aspects of the program that are not pursued by Cephalon in this collaboration.
A team of Cephalon and Euroscreen scientists will work together on the selection, screening and optimization of drug lead programs with Cephalon having the rights to develop the candidates of its choice resulting from the joint drug discovery efforts on the targets.
"We are pleased work closely with Euroscreen on this initiative and leverage their existing broad array of GPCR assays and technologies with our own drug development expertise," said Mike Williams, Vice President, Discovery Research of Cephalon.
"A strong partnership with Cephalon provides Euroscreen with a tremendous opportunity to broaden its business model into drug discovery," said François Roman, V.P. of R&D for Euroscreen.
For further information, please contact:
Euroscreen s.a. Tel: +32 71 348 500
Pierre Nokin, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Alfred Gray, Ph.D.
V.P. Business Development
About Euroscreen SA
Euroscreen is a world leader in G-protein coupled receptors . The Company integrates its research expertise in this area with its patented high-throughput AequoScreen cellular assay platform to patent new GPCR targets and drug candidates.
The Company is building its own patent portfolio of GPCR targets and novel drug leads for licensing to biopharmaceutical companies, and to date has agreements with Cephalon, CyBio, EvotecOAI, GE Healthcare, ICOS, Merck & Co, Pfizer Inc, Solvay, Syngenta and UCB.
Euroscreen has grown significant and strong patent positions for such GPCRs as CCR5, GnRHr, GPR7/8, purinergic receptors (P2Y4, P2Y11 and P2Y13), ORL-1 and a non-GPCR target called SHIP2. Euroscreen is able to offer rights to companies which are developing therapeutic drugs that act through the above-mentioned key targets mode of action and also conduct its own drug development programs against certain of these targets of its own.
Euroscreen is a privately held company based in Brussels, Belgium with 80 employees of which 50 are in R&D.
More information can be found at www.euroscreen.be
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