04-06-2004
Prolexys Pharmaceuticals and Arizona Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University Form Research Collaboration
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 6, 2004. Prolexys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of a research collaboration with Arizona Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. The scope of the project is the discovery of peptides and small molecules that modulate vascular tone and are effective in the treatment of clinical conditions associated with vasospasm and vasoconstriction. A research team in the Arizona Biodesign Institute, led by Dr. Colleen Brophy, Dr. Alyssa Panitch and Dr. Lokesh Joshi, has made seminal discoveries in the signal transduction pathways leading to vasorelaxation. Prolexys will employ their peptide-based pull-down approach to assist in the characterization and isolation of the protein interactors directly involved in the pathway. These proteins will be used to create assays for screening to find modulators of the vasodilation process in smooth muscle.
The clinical applications of the small molecules and peptides that result from this collaboration range from the prevention of vasodilatory shock associated with hypothermia and/or sepsis, to the prevention of certain types of stroke. “We are delighted to be collaborating with the outstanding scientific team at Arizona State on this project” states Dr. Sudhir Sahasrabudhe, Chief Scientific Officer of Prolexys Pharmaceuticals. “Combining the biological expertise of the Arizona State research group with the novel proteomics approaches of Prolexys should result in rapid discovery and development of new therapies”. The project goal is to produce promising lead candidates within the year. According to Dr. George Poste, Director of the Arizona Biodesign Institute, “The relationship between Prolexys and the Arizona Biodesign Institute forms a foundation upon which a number of interesting collaborations can be built.”
About the Arizona Biodesign Institute
AzBio is a multidisciplinary research and education initiative designed to integrate research in systems biology and neurobiology with advances in computing, optoelectronics, biomimetic materials and directed molecular assembly at meso-nanoscale. The central theme linking these diverse fields is comprehension of the principles that regulate molecular assembly in the formation of structural and functional architectures in biological systems and how these design rules can inspire new applications in medicine, agriculture, environmental management and national security.
About Prolexys Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Prolexys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, is a leader in employing high throughput protein interaction research to discover validated targets and lead compounds for human health applications. The complementary yeast two-hybrid platform, HyNet™, and mass spectrometry-based protein science technology, HySpec™, represent a powerful approach towards substantially expanding the reaches of existing protein biochemical networks and discovering new protein relationships. Prolexys intends to utilize its proprietary technologies and processes to enhance protein-based drug discovery working with partners in the pharmaceutical industry. Prolexys maintains its principal offices and laboratories at 2150 West Dauntless Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah 84116. More information can be found at www.prolexys.com. |
