Proteros biostructures GmbH (“Proteros”), an expert in integrated structure-based drug discovery based in Martinsried near Munich, in May announced an expansion of its collaboration with AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) focused on the discovery and development of novel epigenetic drugs. The new multi-year agreement builds on an ongoing collaboration with AstraZeneca announced in June 2021, to include the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting a second cancer-associated epigenetic protein.

Under the terms of this new agreement, Proteros will receive research funding and will be eligible for success-based research, development, and commercial milestone payments of up to USD 75 million plus tiered royalties on annual net sales. The collaboration combines Proteros’ expertise in the identification and characterization of inhibitors with novel binding mechanisms for technically challenging drug targets with AstraZeneca’s leadership in the discovery and development of oncology medicines.

“The expansion of our agreement with AstraZeneca with an additional drug discovery program reflects our successful ongoing collaboration to identify selective inhibitors for notoriously challenging disease targets,” said Dr. Torsten Neuefeind, CEO of Proteros. “This agreement strengthens our collaboration with a global biopharmaceutical leader and we look forward to joining forces again to discover novel inhibitors with the potential to effectively treat cancer patients in the future.”

The Proteros platform will ensure high selectivity to a specific target variant within and across multiple protein families through biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays supported by rapid turnaround in the structural determination of drug-target interactions by X-ray crystallography and cryo-Electron Microscopy technologies.

Proteros biostructures GmbH provides early-stage drug discovery services
Proteros is a privately held company with expertise in structure-based drug discovery powered by a cutting-edge discovery engine tailored to unlock even the most technically challenging disease-relevant targets. The company’s scientific rigor can accelerate overall research timelines for clients by solving challenges at the initial drug discovery and development stages. Proteros supports many of the top 20 world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and more than 250 pharmaceutical and biotech partners in the U.S., Europe and Japan.