Euroscreen and Cephalon Extend their Collaboration for GPCR Drug Discovery

Euroscreen s.a. announced that it has extended the term of an agreement with Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) to collaborate on multiple drug discovery programs through 2009.

Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) February 2, 2007 -- Euroscreen s.a. announced that it has extended the term of an agreement with Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) to collaborate on multiple drug discovery programs through 2009.

Euroscreen and Cephalon initiated the collaboration in 2004 to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics focused upon central nervous system diseases and targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors, or GPCRs, a family of receptors that play a major role in cell signaling. The companies apply the 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 R&D payments and additional milestone payments for successful programs. Euroscreen retains rights to programs that are not pursued by Cephalon under the collaboration.

"We are pleased work closely with Euroscreen on this initiative and continue to leverage their existing broad array of GPCR assays and technologies that compliment our own drug development expertise," said Mike Williams, Vice President, Discovery Research of Cephalon.

"The extension of this strong partnership with Cephalon evidences the positive relationship and results experienced to date. We continue to drive together toward as many drug candidates for Cephalon as possible," said Jean Combalbert, CEO of Euroscreen. "This expansion of our collaboration is one example of our increased focus on our drug development business following the recent acquisition of our Euroscreen Products SA business by PerkinElmer Inc.."

For further information, please contact:
Euroscreen s.a.   Tel: +32 71 348 500
Jean Combalbert, Ph.D.
President and CEO

About Euroscreen s.a.

Euroscreen is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and partnering of small molecule drugs for unmet medical needs. Euroscreen is developing a pipeline of compounds targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) using over 12 years of experience in research and commercialization of this critical class of drug targets in association with the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM) of the University of Brussels. The AequoScreen(tm) cellular assay platform is used extensively in its screening of GPCRs for candidate drugs which are partnered during preclinical development.

The Company has developed a broad GPCR patent portfolio for licensing to biopharmaceutical companies. Such patents address targets such as CCR5, Chemerin receptor, GPR43, GPR7/8, FPRL2, purinergic receptors (P2Y4, P2Y11 and P2Y13) and SHIP2 for type II diabetes.

Euroscreen pursues a dual platform strategy of combining its drug discovery business with its services business unit which supports biopharmaceutical companies around the world. Euroscreen focuses on internal targets in the inflammation area as well as several partnered preclinical-stage collaborations with biopharmaceutical partners. The company has research, product distribution and licensing partnerships with Alchemia, Cephalon, ChemDiv, GNF, ICOS, Medarex, Novartis and Pfizer Inc,. Euroscreen is a privately held company based in Brussels, Belgium. (www.euroscreen.com)

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