Oncodesign signs agreement with Sanofi to identify kinase inhibitors involved in tissue protection and repair

Oncodesign, a company specializing in drug discovery and providing pharmacological evaluation services in the field of oncology, today announces that it has signed a second research collaboration agreement with Sanofi.

This partnership follows a first agreement signed in summer 2012, relating to a number of kinase targets being developed by Sanofi. This second agreement aims to identify inhibitors of a kinase which plays a key role in tissue protection and repair. Oncodesign will use its Nanocyclix(R) technology to design and synthesize potent new selective inhibitors. Sanofi will have exclusive licensing rights to the molecules that result from the collaboration.

Nanocyclix is a proprietary medicinal chemistry technology and a research platform based on a chemical macrocyclization process. The kinase inhibitors obtained using this process are potent and highly selective, because their structures demonstrate exceptional shape complementarity with the binding site of the kinase ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The resulting selectivity is unparalleled, especially for kinases that are highly homologous. Drawing on proven expertise, the technology also allows the pharmacokinetic properties of Nanocyclix compounds to be enhanced at an increased rate. Oncodesign leads the field in macrocyclic kinase inhibitors, offering partnership opportunities based on its own research programs and partners' programs that target the kinases to which the Nanocyclix technology is applied.

“This new agreement with Sanofi demonstrates the level of interest in our Nanocyclix technology from some of the most well-renowned pharma companies. This is our third collaboration agreement in a year of drug discovery, establishing our company as a leader in the field of kinase inhibitors in a variety of therapeutic areas,” says Dr Philippe Genne, chairman, CEO and founder of Oncodesign.

Under the terms of the agreement, Oncodesign will apply its Nanocyclix technology to a key target implicated in the therapeutic area of tissue protection and repair. The cost of the initial phase of the work is to be met in full by Sanofi, who will have exclusive rights to the results of the program. The financial details have not been disclosed.

About Oncodesign

Founded in 1995 and headed by Dr Philippe Genne, Oncodesign is a pioneer in the preclinical assessment of anti-cancer therapies, a market  in which it has been leading  for many years. Oncodesign’s mission consists of discovering effective anti-cancer therapies. Its scientific expertise in pharmacology, imaging and medicinal chemistry, in addition to strong project management skills, support the company’s two strategic activities of experimentation and discovery, conducted in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The experimentation activity is organized in three technological platforms: PREDICT(R) specializes in conventional in vitro and in vivo pharmacology; Chi-Mice(R) focuses on the development of in vivo chimeric humanized models; Pharmimage(R)  is dedicated to multimodal, non-invasive pharmaco-imaging. On the basis of these three platforms, Oncodesign markets a broad range of products and services (fee-for-service) for the assessment, validation, targeting and diagnostic linking of anticancer therapies. Since 2010, Oncodesign has incorporated Nanocyclix(R), a medicinal chemistry technology which is dedicated to the synthesis and to the optimization of new compounds for therapeutic or diagnostic use. The combination of these four technological platforms results in a unique and innovative translational research approach in a risk-sharing model between partners.

For more information, see http://www.oncodesign.com