OXFORD and Nottingham UK, 06 FEBRUARY 2019: Pathios
Therapeutics (“Pathios”), an innovative biotech company focused on the
development of first in class therapies for autoimmune diseases and
immuno-oncology and Sygnature Discovery (“Sygnature”), jointly announce a
strategic partnership to accelerate Pathios’ drug discovery and
development programmes.
As
part of the agreement, Pathios and Sygnature will collaborate on an
integrated drug discovery programme against a novel G Protein-Coupled
Receptor (GPCR) target. Specifically, Sygnature are providing their industry leading
expertise in GPCR bioscience and
medicinal chemistry to expand Pathios’ current hit-to-lead programme.
Sygnature are also deploying their computational chemistry, library
design and synthesis and medium throughput screening capability to
broaden Pathios’ hit finding. As part of this agreement, Sygnature will
receive equity in addition to fees.
Pathios
Therapeutics brings together cutting-edge European science and a
leading drug discovery and development team to modulate the activity of
GPR65, a pH sensing GPCR. This drug target is characteristic of certain T
helper 17 (Th17) cell populations which have been shown to contribute
significantly to the pathology of autoimmune conditions, such as
ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. In addition, recently
published studies have demonstrated GPR65 drives tumour associated macrophages (TAM) to adopt a phenotype that supports cancer immune evasion.
Tom McCarthy, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Pathios Therapeutics Limited, commented:
“We founded Pathios to build on emerging science that demonstrated
GPR65 sits at the nexus of autoimmune disease and immuno-oncology as
this receptor links pathology caused by a low pH environment. The
ultimate aim is to block the pathological process
that GPR65 initiates without interfering with the physiological role of
this receptor. In addition to developing potent and selective drugs to
modulate GPR65, we are continuing to broaden the understanding of the
fundamental biological processes that link to GPR65’s effects in Th17
cells, TAMs and other cell types. Our team has worked closely with
Sygnature in the past and know they have the deep
experience, expertise and state-of-the-art drug discovery and
development infrastructure to drive our programme forward. I’m delighted
on this rare occasion Sygnature also chose to invest in Pathios and
expand our GPR65 drug discovery efforts while we explore Series A
funding opportunities”.
Simon Hirst, CEO of Sygnature, added:
“We are extremely pleased to take this exceptional opportunity to
partner with, and invest in Pathios on their drug discovery projects.
Based on our diligence activities, we are excited about the potential
for GPR65 modulation to be central to new treatments for autoimmune
disease and a critical
mechanism of action in next generation immuno-oncology drugs targeting the tumour micro-environment.
We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Tom and the rest of
Pathios’ tremendously talented team again and contribute to the
potential positive impact their therapeutics will have on patients’
lives”.
About Pathios Therapeutics
Launched
in 2017, Pathios is a drug discovery and development company focused on
translating innovative science into new medicines. Pathios was founded
by a team of experienced biotech and pharmaceutical industry
professionals, entrepreneurs and clinicians, led by Chairman Tom
McCarthy. The Company is initially focused on the development of
modulators of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR65.
About Sygnature Discovery
Sygnature
Discovery is a leading independent integrated drug discovery and
pre-clinical services company. Private equity-backed since 2017, we
operate fully-enabled research facilities in Nottingham and Alderley
Park, UK, housing over 200 research scientists (over 80% with PhDs). Our
experienced drug hunters possess all the professional skills and
know-how required to undertake the most demanding of research programmes
and drive them from target validation through hit identification,
hit-to-lead and lead optimisation to pre-clinical development candidate.
Since 2011, we have delivered 14 drug candidates to our clients which
have subsequently entered the
clinic (Phases I, II and III). In 2017, Sygnature Discovery received the
prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. For
further information, visit: www.sygnaturediscovery.com
Contacts
Pathios:
Tom McCarthy
Chairman
Email: info@pathiostherapeutics.com
Sygnature:
Andy Lindstrom
Director of Marketing
Email: a.lindstrom@sygnaturediscovery.com
Phone: +44 (0)115 941 5401