Domainex, has core intellectual property rights granted for Europe

Domainex Ltd (Domainex) today announced the grant of European Patent No.1442134 for its Combinatorial Domain Hunting (CDH) Technology.

Based in London and Cambridge, Domainex is a research company developing a pipeline of pre-clinical drugs and targets, specializing in the development of novel drug targets reached by the CDH technology. The Company is also providing its unique structural biology and chemistry services to major pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.

The vast amount of information available in the post-genomic era means that there are many highly attractive protein targets known to the pharmaceutical industry where an inability to supply of protein has prevented their use in drug discovery. Domainex has closed this ‘discovery gap’ with its unique Combinatorial Domain Hunting (CDH) technology which enables the cloning and expression of recombinant proteins, or parts of proteins (domains), from challenging molecular targets. These proteins are then screened to select soluble, stable protein domains that are ideal reagents for use in drug discovery programmes.

Domainex has already used its CDH protein expression platform to successfully tackle a series of difficult target proteins and has fulfilled commercial contracts with a number of major pharmaceutical companies, such as leading global firm, UCB.

Dr Eddy Littler, Chief Executive Officer of Domainex, said: “We are delighted to have had our CDH patent granted in Europe. These intellectual property rights are central to Domainex’s proprietary position on CDH and its application to the cloning and expression of challenging therapeutic targets. The application of the CDH technology in client projects is now an important part of our revenue stream - during 2008 we have already secured contracts for development work on four therapeutic targets and anticipate concluding several more over the next few months.

“The application of the CDH technology within our internal portfolio allows Domainex to access attractive therapeutic targets which are impossible to approach by other technologies. We also have a granted Australian patent for CDH and pending CDH patent applications in the USA and several other territories - we look forward to the successful grant of these applications in due course.”

Keith Powell, Chairman of Domainex, said: “It is great to see the core elements of a successful business coming together at Domainex - with the provision of targets and chemistry, the Company is well placed to be an invention engine for novel small molecule drugs.”

Domainex’s portfolio will have an initial focus on targets for cancer treatments and the Company has started to discuss these targets with pharmaceutical companies with a view to future out-licensing.

Domainex also provides comprehensive chemistry services to biotech and pharmaceutical firms involved in drug discovery. It has laboratories on the Cambridge Science Park, and its scientific operations are managed by Research Director, Dr Trevor Perrior, a highly experienced scientist who has been responsible for the discovery of several medicines.