Ensemble Therapeutics announces initiation of drug discovery collaboration with Alexion subsidiary

Ensemble Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing Ensemblins™, a novel class of small molecule therapeutics with the potential to modulate targets typically addressed by biologics, today announced the initiation of a drug discovery collaboration with a subsidiary of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN), the global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing life-transforming therapies for patients with life-threatening, ultra-rare disorders. The collaboration will deploy Ensemble's proprietary drug discovery platforms for several undisclosed drug targets identified by Alexion to create highly innovative small molecule therapeutic candidates.

“Alexion looks forward to a productive collaboration with Ensemble as we seek to broaden the number of pathways toward developing potentially transformative first-in-class drug candidates for patients with selected severe and life-threatening ultra-rare disorders”

Under the terms of the collaboration, Ensemble will screen its Ensemblin™ collection of more than ten million macrocycles against several disease drug targets specified by Alexion, utilizing Ensemble's extensive medicinal chemistry capabilities to discover new small molecule clinical candidates. Alexion will have the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize candidates arising from the collaboration. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed; Ensemble will receive an upfront payment and research support, and can earn additional payments upon the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones.

"Ensemble is thrilled to support Alexion's cutting edge scientific and clinical programs with our ever increasing capability for macrocycle-based drug discovery," said Dr. Michael D. Taylor, CEO of Ensemble Therapeutics. "This new collaboration with a leading biopharmaceutical innovator focused on rare diseases speaks to the breadth of utility of Ensemble's discovery platforms to address clinically important yet challenging drug targets," Dr. Taylor added.

"Alexion looks forward to a productive collaboration with Ensemble as we seek to broaden the number of pathways toward developing potentially transformative first-in-class drug candidates for patients with selected severe and life-threatening ultra-rare disorders," said Martin Mackay, PhD, Executive Vice President, Head of Global R&D at Alexion. "This is a promising addition to our development initiatives as we seek to further expand our product portfolio."