Domainex, St George's and Manchester University in asthma collaboration

Domainex, St George's University of London and the University of Manchester are collaborating on a drug discovery programme to provide a better treatment for asthma.

Drug discovery company Domainex, based on Cambridge Science Park, will provide lead optimisation services for an asthma research programme being undertaken at St George's. The company will receive more than £1.5m in research fees over two years.

Scientists led by Clive Robinson, Professor in Respiratory Cell Science at St George's, working with Professor David Garrod at Manchester and a team from Domainex, have discovered drug-like compounds that inhibit Der p1, an enzyme that triggers asthma attacks.

St George's University of London and The University of Manchester have recently been awarded a £4m research grant from the Wellcome Trust's Seeding Drug Discovery Initiative to take this research programme forward.

Domainex will apply its LeadBuilder technology, which uses a virtual screening capability to select chemical compounds suitable for rapid progression, and its medicinal chemistry expertise to assist in the development of a drug candidate to take into clinical trials.

Professor Robinson said: "The innovative services provided by Domainex's scientists, together with the support of the Wellcome Trust, will help us to accelerate the development of our exciting anti-asthma compounds."

Professor Garrod added: "This is a most exciting development in a productive on-going collaboration that promises to bring real benefit to the millions who suffer from respiratory allergies."