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A US pharmaceutical company that specialises in DNA-programmed chemistry has sealed a deal with one of the world’s biggest drug companies to discover and develop future drug candidates.
Ensemble Discovery Corp, the exclusive licensee of Harvard University patents covering DNA-programmed chemistry, has collaborated with Pfizer Inc so that the drug giant will retain development and commercialisation rights of future treatments that arise from the partnership.
Pfizer will also provide Ensemble with development funding throughout the partnership and take advantage of the organisation’s expertise in DNA-programmed chemistry, which could provide future treatments for serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In a statement announcing the new venture, Ensemble said: “The collaboration will deploy Ensemble’s proprietary drug discovery platforms and EnsemblinTM compound libraries to discover and advance drug candidates.
‘”Pfizer will provide upfront and research payments to Ensemble and will have the right to develop and commercialise any products arising from the collaboration.”
The deal strengthens Ensemble’s standing as a world leader in DNA-programmed chemistry following a similar drug discovery alliance which they established with Bristol-Myers Squibb in April last year.
Copyright Press Association 2010
