MISSION VIEJO, Calif.--Feb. 28, 2002--Metaphorics, LLC. announced today a research collaboration with Syrrx, Inc. to improve computational tools for docking ligand molecule structures into protein binding sites. As a result of the collaboration, the companies expect to create new software which improves the ability to predict the potential complementarity between ligand and proteins. The success of this collaboration will accelerate the discovery of novel drugs to treat human diseases, including cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Metaphorics will provide informatics expertise pertaining to DockIt, its distance geometry based suite of programs which automates high-throughput docking of small molecules vs. macromolecular targets for applications in combinatorial chemistry, virtual library screening and design, and target identification. Syrrx has been using DockIt for one year, and now have this high performance computational software running on a Linux cluster of nearly 500 nodes, rising too 1000 nodes by mid-2002. Syrrx will provide their expertise in compiling and analyzing structural proteomics data.
Metaphorics and Syrrx believe that the problem of assessing complementarity between ligands and macromolecular targets is a key area for improvements in existing docking methods. With this collaboration the two companies intend to develop improved methods which will benefit DockIt performance and define the state-of-the-art in docking tools.
``As one of the leaders in the structural proteomics field, Syrrx is in an excellent position to identify necessary advancements in bioinformatics tools,'' said Scott Dixon, Metaphorics' Chief Technology Officer. ``They have built one of the most advanced technology platforms for the determination of protein structures and this makes them an ideal collaborator for the further development of DockIt.''
``Metaphorics' DockIt software is unique in the field of high-throughput docking software in that one can easily integrate novel scoring functions which can then be utilized by the docking engine,'' said Mike Tennant, Ph.D., Director of Computational Biology at Syrrx. ``This, when coupled with a high-throughput rational drug discovery platform, enables a powerful and flexible drug discovery methodology.''
ABOUT METAPHORICS
Metaphorics, LLC develops computational and informatics tools for the analysis and integration of biological and chemical information. Based in Mission Viejo, CA, Metaphorics is a privately held company with research offices in Portland, OR and Santa Fe, NM. For more information, please visit the Metaphorics website at metaphorics.com. |
