UCB and ConfometRx form neuroscience alliance

UCB has announced a new collaboration with ConfometRx that aims to make breakthroughs in neuroscience research by pursuing a novel approach.

The two-year multi-target agreement will see the companies leveraging structural biology to gain insight into G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) modulation towards the design of differentiated drugs for a number of conditions.

GPCRs are the largest family of signaling proteins in the human genome and are involved in almost all physiological processes, thus representing the single largest target class for medicines on the market.

ConfometRx is a specialist structural biology company founded by Stanford University professor Brian Kobilka, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in the field of GPCR structural biology.

Ismail Kola, executive vice-president and president of NewMedicines at UCB, said: "The collaboration with ConfometRx is another example of UCB's strategies at work, where we are continuing to build supernetworks of innovation that are aimed at creating superior and sustainable value for patients."

Earlier this month, the company submitted new regulatory filings for new active psoriatic arthritis and active axial spondyloarthritis indications for its drug Cimzia in Europe and the US.