Isogenica enters into research and licence option agreement with UCB

UK company Isogenica has entered into a research and licence option agreement with UCB for the discovery of novel peptide ligands that UCB intends to incorporate into therapeutic products.

Isogenica was formed in December 2000 to develop and commercialise innovative in vitro molecular evolution technologies. Its core technology, CIS display, can be applied to the discovery of new antibody, peptide and polypeptide drug candidates, to the discovery of high specificity diagnostic compounds and to the isolation of target validation and other research reagents, purification reagents and environmental detection reagents.

Under the terms of the agreement, Isogenica will use its CIS display technology to select peptide ligands to an undisclosed target to be provided by UCB. UCB will then have an option to advance into clinical development any product that contains a peptide ligand discovered during the collaboration.

'We believe that peptides, and especially those discovered and matured for enhanced in vivo performance using CIS display technology, represent a very rich source of compounds for therapeutic and other in vivo applications,' said Isogenica ceo Dr Kevin FitzGerald.

Further details of the research and licence option agreement have not been disclosed.