Astellas drug target screening triggers milestone payment

Astellas will pay biotechnology firm Metabolex a milestone payment after it has started high-throughput screening against a new drug target that could be useful in treating type two diabetes.

The two companies have been involved in a four-year collaboration intended to identify new compounds to be screened against validated drug targets, before advancing the compounds into development.

So far, Astellas and Metabolex have identified ten new targets that could have a major effect on the symptoms of type two diabetes. US-based Metabolex claims that the research necessitates a firm understanding of the “molecular underpinnings” of insulin resistance.

If any compounds are developed successfully, Metabolex could receive royalties from sales and will retain promotional rights for North and South America.

Harold E Van Wart, president and chief executive officer of Metabolex, commented: “This validated target has a unique pattern of expression and may eventually lead to novel approaches to address insulin resistance, an underlying cause of type two diabetes.”

Metabolex specialises in developing next-generation insulin synthesisers. The company also has a collaboration with Ortho-McNeil, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.

According to Diabetes UK, a charity, some two million Britons have diabetes, with a further 750,000 who are unaware of their condition.