AstraZeneca and CrystalGenomics to develop anti-infectives

AstraZeneca is to fund CrystalGenomics" development of a novel anti-infective for use as a potential antibacterial agent.

Under the terms of the agreement, Korea-based CrystalGenomics will receive research funding from AstraZeneca for two years. The firm will also be eligible to receive future milestones and royalty payments associated with development and commercialisation of a drug candidate. Further financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This is AstraZeneca's first such infection research collaboration with a Korea-based company and further demonstrates its commitment to Asia.

The two companies aim to generate lead compounds against a pre-agreed bacterial target. CrystalGenomics will use its structure-based drug discovery platform technology to optimise selected novel scaffolds from AstraZeneca's proprietary compound library against an antibacterial target validated by AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca and CrystalGenomics will perform in vitro enzyme and cell based assays, structure determination, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetic studies, toxicology tests and pharmacological evaluations.

AstraZeneca will be responsible for preclinical and clinical development and commercialisation.

Joong Myung Cho, president and ceo of CrystalGenomics, said: "We believe this collaboration is a validation of CrystalGenomics' ability to discover novel drugs on a global standard."