AstraZeneca completes collaborative project with EvoRx Technologies

AstraZeneca has successfully completed a one-year peptide-focused research collaboration with EvoRx Technologies.

The work leveraged EvoRx's proprietary Evo-Link technology to discover cell penetrating peptides for a high-value intracellular protein-protein interaction target in the field of respiratory health.

EvoRx's team was able to successfully generate peptides with sub-micromolar cell activity and low drop-off from primary potency, thus meeting the primary goal of the collaboration. AstraZeneca will now continue the development of the lead candidates.

Developments such as these are important for unlocking the potential of the nearly 70 percent of proteins implicated in diseases that still remain inaccessible and are considered undruggable with traditional therapeutic approaches.

Dr Maarten Kraan, head of the respiratory, inflammation and autoimmune diseases innovative medicines unit at AstraZeneca, said: "Designing potent, stable, cell-penetrating peptides is one of our industry's biggest challenges, and so we are delighted with the outcome of our collaboration with EvoRx Technologies."

Earlier this week, the company agreed a deal with Tillotts Pharma for the divestment of global rights to the gastroenterology medicine Entocort.