Eisai and Charles River Laboratories enter drug discovery collaboration
Charles River scientists will make use of Eisai's research and development facilities in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
Eisai and Charles River Laboratories have announced a collaboration in which Charles River scientists will work at Eisai's research and development facilities in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
The tie-up will involve Charles River supporting Eisai scientists from Japan, the US and the UK on synthetic and medicinal chemistry projects, including those seeking novel treatments for neurological diseases.
Charles River scientists will also participate in a medicinal chemistry project to discover new antimalarial drugs with activity against drug resistant strains of disease. This work is in collaboration with the GHIT Fund (Global Health Innovative Technology Fund) and Medicines for Malaria Venture, and builds upon earlier research by Eisai which has focused on malaria and neglected diseases to improve access to medicines in developing countries.
'We are pleased to work in collaboration with Charles River Laboratories and look forward to welcoming their expert scientists into our research and development facilities in the coming weeks,' said Gary Hendler, President and CEO Eisai EMEA.
'This agreement will see Charles River scientists explore a number of important disease areas, and malaria could hardly be a more important starting point.'
Emily Hickey, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Discovery Services, Charles River Laboratories, added: 'We expect our collaboration with Eisai will be the first of many.'