Ongar, UK – November 2nd 2015
Selcia has today announced that its spin out company Cypralis has been awarded co-funding by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, to generate a new class of cyclophilin inhibitors. As part of the deal, Selcia will provide integrated drug discovery services to Cypralis including medicinal chemistry, PPIase screening and ADME.
Selcia, a privately held contract research organisation, spun out Cypralis in 2013 to exploit its extensive expertise and know-how in targeting peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases).
Inhibitors of PPIase cyclophilin currently on the market are non-selective between the four common cyclophilin isoforms A, B, C and D. The objective of this feasibility study is to generate a new class of selective inhibitors of cyclophilin D to target degenerative disease, including diseases such as pancreatitis, ischaemias and CNS degeneration.
Dr Vicky Steadman, Director Discovery at Selcia said ‘We are delighted to be working with Cypralis on this exciting project and we look forward to utilising our specialist expertise in drug discovery to support the search for new medicines.’
About Selcia
Selcia is a privately held contract research organisation providing integrated small molecule drug discovery with specialist expertise in the medicinal chemistry of macrocycles, including cyclic peptides, their simplification and optimisation for drug use together with a unique peptidyl prolyl isomerase (PPIase) inhibitor screening platform. Selcia is also a global leader in radiochemistry providing 14C GMP radiolabelled API for clinical trials and 14C custom radiolabelling for drug metabolism, dermal penetration and environmental fate studies.
About Cypralis
Cypralis is dedicated to the discovery and development of highly innovative therapeutics for the inhibition of PPIases and expects to build upon its existing intellectual property estate through its own R&D activities and also through risk-sharing collaborations with pharmaceutical companies.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK is the new name for the Technology Strategy Board – the UK’s innovation agency. Taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK funds, supports and connects innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth. For further information visit www.innovateuk.org
Feasibility Studies:
‘Feasibility Studies’ are single-company or collaborative R&D grant schemes run by Innovate UK that allow businesses the opportunity to test an innovative idea and its feasibility to be developed and eventually taken to market. Feasibility studies are a way for companies to carry out exploratory studies which could lead to the development of new products, processes, models, experiences or services. The study could involve for instance investigating the technical feasibility of a new idea.
http://www.innovateuk.org/-/feasibility-studies
Media enquiries:
Andy Matthews
O2PR
andy.matthews@o2pr.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7967 153753
All other enquiries:
Dave Roberts, Business Development Director, Selcia
contact@selcia.com
Tel: +44 (0)1277 36700