License Deal for GPCR Drug Discovery

A nonexclusive license to proprietary technology for drug discovery has been granted by the developer, Norak Biosciences (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA), to AstraZeneca (London, UK).

AstraZeneca will use the technology, Transfluor, for an internal G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery project. AstraZeneca is to provide feedback to Norak on the performance and results of Transfluor use in high throughput screening against a large compound library. Norak will provide ongoing technology support and know-how related to GPCR targets. GPCRs are cell surface targets to which drugs bind to cause changes in intracellular function and are the richest receptor targets for drug discovery.

"The evaluation of the Transfluor technology to date has demonstrated the potential for this assay to contribute to AstraZeneca's drug discovery program,” said Elaine Sullivan, Ph.D., director of The Advanced Science and Technology Laboratory, AstraZeneca.

The patented Transfluor technology is designed to be the most accurate method for discovering ligands for GPCR targets, whether known or orphan. Norak is offering limited access to its Transfluor technology to the pharmaceutical industry via licensing and collaborations and is also conducting internal research to discover drugs for its own pipeline.




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