Metrion Biosciences Limited, a contract research and drug discovery company, and Bioqube Ventures, a European life sciences investment firm, have entered into a collaboration to incubate a drug discovery research project targeting autoimmune diseases.
The collaboration will see the companies advance a lead series of previously identified small molecule inhibitors of the human Kv1.3 potassium ion channel to enable further development. Activation of this voltage-gated ion channel in effector memory T-cells is thought to be an early and necessary step in the development of auto-immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus nephritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and many others.
The lead candidate(s) will be progressed for further development and clinical trials. Metrion will provide its expertise in ion channel assays and compound characterisation, the company says, with additional support from undisclosed medicinal chemistry and ADME and toxicology partners.The investment firm focuses on the discovery and development of therapeutic platforms and assets, aiming to invest in “the most promising innovative science in Europe”, applying a dual investment proposition including a venture creation model.
Dirk Reyn, Managing Partner, Bioqube Ventures, commented: “This collaboration is part of our venture creation model in which we invest in projects, our so called Create Projects, prior to the creation of a company. Through these Create Projects we invest directly in assets that are residing within academia, biotech, pharma, or in this case with Metrion, a CRO, with the aim to derisk and mature these programmes before we fully build portfolio companies around them. We are very pleased to now be supporting this promising project with Metrion Biosciences.”
Dr Keith McCullagh, Chairman, Metrion Biosciences, said: “We are delighted to be working with Bioqube Ventures on this exciting project. They have an excellent understanding of the criteria for successful pharmaceutical development and the potential breakthrough opportunity represented by human Kv1.3 inhibitors in the treatment of autoimmune disorders.”