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Galapagos NV, ZoBio BV, Pyxis Discovery BV and Leiden University collaborate in arthritis drug discovery program

11 Aug 2005 - Galapagos NV, ZoBio BV, Pyxis Discovery BV and Leiden University announced the formation of a four-way collaboration to pursue a small molecule drug discovery program in the area of arthritis. The collaboration, funded in part by an IS ("Innovatiesubsidie Samenwerkingsprojecten") grant from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, brings together three Benelux biotech companies and a Dutch university in one highly complementary and strategic project. The IS grant, which amounts to over EUR1.2 million, will go towards funding the two-year collaboration.
 
As a member of the collaborative effort, Galapagos will contribute its arthritis disease biology and a validated target for drug development, which has been discovered using its siRNA-based technologies. ZoBio will be responsible for identification of a candidate drug compound using its proprietary TINS (Target Immobilized NMR Screening) technology, which will be further advanced via co-development with Leiden University. In addition, Pyxis Discovery will apply its expertise in computer-aided chemistry for the design of specialized "fragment-based" compound libraries that will be used to screen the target.