AstraZeneca inks new research collaboration

AstraZeneca has announced that it will collaborate with Cellectricon to research the possibilities of a new cell-based microfluidic screening platform. Cellectricon says the research is needed to further the performance of cell-based ion channel assays in screening applications to help in the search for new drugs.

Cellectricon, a Gothenburg-based research company, said it was pleased that AstraZeneca recognises the value of microfluidic-based research methods in discovering new drug compounds. One of the company’s products, Dynaflow is designed to screen and optimise drugs acting on ion channel receptors, while Cellaxess screens cell-based assays working with intracellular targets and RNA interference.

Dr Mattias Karlson, vice-president of research and development at Cellectricon, said that Dynaflow would support the “unique possibilities the micro-scale format offers such as superior performance characteristics and robustness.”

AstraZeneca’s Dr Christer Nordstedt, vice-president of the discovery research area in the central nervous system and pain, added that Cellectricon systems have “the potential to expedite our efforts in ion channel drug discovery.”

The collaboration is the latest in AstraZeneca’s many research partnerships. In December last year, the UK’s second largest pharmaceuticals company acquired the British biotechnology firm KuDOS to further research into cancer, while in July 2005 the company announced partnerships with Schering AG for anti-inflammatory research, Astex for cancer research and Avanair to develop anti-cholesterol drugs.

Like other large pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca has been vigorously defending its patents and has in recent months been involved in legal proceedings against generic manufacturers Teva, Ranbaxy and Ivax for alleged patent infringements.

© Adfero Ltd