Domain Therapeutics, a France-based biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research and development of new drug candidates that target G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), is pleased to announce the signing of a licensing and partnership agreement on GPCR biosensor technology with the Universite de Montreal (UdeM) and its commercialization unit, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research (IRICoR), and McGill University.
The GPCR biosensor technology was developed with the support of a grant from the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM), whose mission is to fund breakthrough technologies with the financial support of major pharma companies. This project was overseen by a team of researchers from UdeM’s Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) led by Dr. Michel Bouvier. Dr. Bouvier is internationally renowned for his work on GPCRs.
The agreement gives Domain Therapeutics co-exclusive access, with AstraZeneca, Merck and Pfizer participating via the CQDM, to biosensor technology developed by Dr. Bouvier’s team. This new approach, which makes it possible to discriminate the functional activation of intracellular signalling pathways associated with GPCRs, is considered a prime technology for accelerating the discovery and development of biased ligands for this class of receptors.
In addition, Domain Therapeutics will offer a unique service in profiling drug candidates for the pharma and biotech industries. Domain Therapeutics also leverages a screening platform called DTect-All(TM), designed to discover innovative drugs that target GPCRs. By combining the two technologies, Domain Therapeutics can discover and optimize more effective non-toxic therapeutic candidates for its internal programs and for collaborative programs with industry partners.
The biosensor technology already covers more than twenty signaling pathways and, under the terms of the agreement, a partnership will also be set up for the joint development of additional biosensors. IRIC researchers and their colleagues from UdeM, McGill University and Universite de Sherbrooke will contribute their research expertise in molecular pharmacology.
“This technology, which is unique in the world, strengthens our capacity to discover the drugs of tomorrow, which will be more effective and safer,” said Pascal Neuville, chief executive officer of Domain Therapeutics. “The scientific quality of Dr. Michel Bouvier’s lab and his international reputation offer our company tremendous expertise in the future use of this technology.”
“The combination of our innovative approaches leading to a joint project that brings together our complementary expertise is extremely good news. Improving the efficacy of existing drugs and developing new drugs require establishing innovative partnerships like this one with Domain Therapeutics,” said Michel Bouvier, principal investigator at IRIC and CEO of IRICoR.
Under the terms of the agreement with the UdeM, Domain Therapeutics will make an upfront payment on signing. The company will also pay an annual access fee for the technology, as well as royalties on income earned from sales of screening services and sales of drugs resulting from its own research and partnership activities. Domain Therapeutics will also provide financial support for the discovery of new biosensors.
“We welcome this highly promising partnership to develop the drugs of tomorrow between Domain Therapeutics and a seasoned team from our university, led by Michel Bouvier, an international expert in basic molecular pharmacology research and an innovative mind,” said Genevieve Tanguay, vice-rector of Research, Creation and Innovation at the Universite de Montreal.
“McGill University has a proud history of innovation and product development in numerous fields, especially the life sciences”, said Dr. Rose Goldstein, McGill’s vice-principal (Research and International Relations). “We very much look forward to continuing this tradition through our partnership with Domain Therapeutics and the Universite de Montreal – a collaboration that has the potential to create new and better treatments for patients.”
About G-protein coupled receptors and biosensor technology
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to the family of membrane receptors and constitute one of the main classes of therapeutic targets for many indications of the central nervous system, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal diseases. The binding of a hormone or a specific ligand to a receptor’s binding site activates one or several pathways for intracellular signalling, which enables the cell to provide an adapted response to the change in its environment. The many drugs that target GPCRs represent about 40 per cent of all treatments on the market, but only address 15 per cent of GPCRs. Industry scientists in the sector are now researching treatments that work on the remaining 85 per cent of GPCRs, treatments that are better adapted to patients’ physiology and with fewer risks of side effects. The molecules in question are called allosteric modulators and biased ligands. Biosensor technology enables us to understand the signalling pathways that are activated by each candidate molecule and thus predict its pharmacological profile. This approach makes it possible to choose at a very early development stage the molecule(s) that have the best chance of being active without presenting side effects or inducing tolerance to treatment.
About the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM)
CQDM is a consortium of pre-competitive research whose mission is to fund breakthrough technologies that accelerate the discovery and development process of new drugs. Unique in the world, CQDM’s business model is based on a collaborative approach where all stakeholders share the costs of research and benefit from its results. This model allows it to generate a financial leverage of 20 times. CQDM receives financial support from Pfizer Canada, AstraZeneca, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly Canada, Novartis Pharma Canada, as well as Quebec’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MESRST) and the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE). For more information: http://www.cqdm.org
About Domain Therapeutics
Domain Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Strasbourg, France, dedicated to the discovery and early development of small molecules targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. Domain Therapeutics identifies and develops new drug candidates, allosteric modulators and biased ligands through its innovative approach and distinctive technologies. The company provides access to its technologies through research and collaborative agreements and develops its own pipeline for components up to the stage of optimized lead product for major indications in central nervous system and metabolic disorders.
For more information: http://www.domaintherapeutics.com
About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC)
An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Universite de Montreal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this plague. IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer. For more information: http://www.iric.ca
About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research (IRICoR)
IRICoR is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to accelerate the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs that originate at the Universite de Montreal. IRICoR, as a Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research, invests in highly innovative projects to rapidly transition them from academia to the market, while identifying the best development partners for these commercially promising projects. For more information about IRICoR: http://www.iricor.ca
About Universite de Montreal (UdeM)
Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Universite de Montreal ranks among the top universities in the world, particularly in the French-speaking world. Founded in 1878, Universite de Montreal today has 16 faculties. Together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montreal and Ecole Polytechnique, it constitutes the largest centre of higher education and research in Quebec and one of the major centres in North America. It brings together 2,600 professors and researchers, and more than 65,000 students.
For more information: http://www.umontreal.ca
About McGill University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional schools, 300 programs of study and some 39,000 students, including more than 9,300 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world. Its 8,200 international students make up 21 per cent of the student body.
For more information: http://www.mcgill.ca
