Nuevolution acquires rights to molecular evolution patents

Danish drug discovery company Nuevolution has acquired rights to a portfolio of key patents relating to the discovery of small molecule drug candidates by a process of 'molecular evolution' that allows DNA to act as a vehicle to generate rapidly many millions of potential drug-like molecules.

The patents, originating from the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, US, relate to the generation and screening of bi-functional molecules (chemical entities that combine a short piece of DNA with a small organic molecule).

'We are very pleased to have acquired additional rights to patents relating to these unique bi-functional molecules,' said Dr Zahed Subhan, ceo of Nuevolution. 'We have found a way to use DNA to generate and encode massive libraries of small molecules and subsequently identify the highest potential drug candidates from these ultralarge libraries. These patents will help Nuevolution strengthen its position in this revolutionary area of drug discovery.'

Nuevolution uses its proprietary Chemetics technology to rapidly generate tens to hundreds of potent, structurally diverse, small molecule drug leads to virtually any target in a matter of weeks. The technology is a patent protected hybrid of proven wet chemistry and molecular biology approaches that enables the rapid synthesis and accurate selection of billions to trillions of chemically diverse, drug-like compounds in a single test tube.