Parking a bit more stuff on Avidex, which really belongs here rather than the small cap foreign biotech thread...
avidexltd.co.uk
Avidex is considering a selective partnering strategy for 2002. Initially, the company will be seeking a collaborative partner to take its protein suppressor of T cell activation, soluble CD8, into the clinic in 2003.
The range of new chemical entities arising from the drug discovery programmes will be extremely broad, because screens can be run to identify:
* HLA-specific inhibitors of any chosen type for graft rejection or autoimmune disease
* Small molecules specific for any chosen cancer peptide antigen for drug targeting to tumours
* Small molecules specific for any chosen viral peptide antigen for drug targeting to virus infected tissues
Each screen is already covered by patents owned by Avidex.
Avidex already has very potent and specific compounds for a common HLA type and two cancer peptide antigens. These are druggable compounds, with high activity against validated targets.
Avidex is interested in discussing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies wishing to enter into a strategic alliance, covering either the compounds already identified or new screening targets...
4th September 2001
Avidex recognises benefits of BioFocus' integrated chemistry and biology expertise
BioFocus plc (BioFocus), the drug discovery services company and Avidex Ltd (Avidex), the UK privately owned biotechnology company, have entered a collaborative agreement to apply BioFocus proprietary chemistry and biology technologies to accelerate Avidex's drug discovery programmes.
Under the terms of the agreement BioFocus will screen their complete diverse drug like screening collection against Avidex's proprietary targets which are relevant to multiple therapeutic areas. Once hits are identified, BioFocus will utilise its medicinal, synthetic, analytical and computational chemistry expertise to confirm hit structure and discover useful analogues. It will then prioritise the hits for evaluation or analogue synthesis and undertake preliminary synthetic feasibility studies. All data resulting from the collaboration will be transferred to Avidex.
'Following the recent acquisition of Cambridge Drug Discovery, we are delighted that Avidex has recognized the value of our integrated biology and chemistry expertise and we look forward to working with them to accelerate their drug discovery programmes' commented Dr David Stone, BioFocus Chief Executive. 'Thanks to our innovative and comprehensive skill base we can help our partners discover more, higher quality leads in shorter time frames.'
James Noble, the Avidex Chief Executive Officer said "Avidex has developed proprietary technology which allows us to screen for inhibitors of T-cell Antigen Presenting Cell interactions. Our collaboration with BioFocus complements our internal T-cell biology resource and allows us to complete screening work and progress hits into lead validation and lead optimisation."...
April 2001
Avidex Ltd. appointed Dr. Hugh A. Penfold as Head of Business Development. Hugh Penfold was Head of Licensing at Celltech which he joined following the merger with Medeva, where he hab be responsibel for i- and out-licensing since 1996. Prior to joining Medeva, Dr. Penfold managed business development in Eastern Europe and CIS at Amersham International and was licensing manager at Celltech. (Corp PR 29/04/2001) ... |
