Apeiron Biologics Selects Domainex to Provide Integrated Lead Optimization Services

Privately-held biotech company, Apeiron Biologics, has selected integrated drug discovery research partner, Domainex, to advance the development of inhibitors for the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b, it was announced in a Nov. 9, 2020 press release.

Under the terms of the agreement, Domainex will provide expertise in medicinal and computational chemistry, screening, structural biology, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacokinetics (ADME/PK) to advance Apeiron’s Cbl-b targeting compound series APN431 to pre-clinical development. This lead optimization service agreement extends the companies earlier partnership where Domainex provided Apeiron with hit identification.

“We are delighted to move into this new phase of our partnership with Apeiron Biologics to support the discovery and development of new medicines to treat cancer,” said Dr. Tom Mander, CEO of Domainex, in the press release. “Our multi-disciplinary team of scientists has been successful at generating multiple compound series with promising properties.”

“Finding the right research partner for the development of our highly innovative immune-oncology therapeutics is essential for fast, efficient, and ultimately successful results,” added Peter Llewellyn-Davies, CEO of Apeiron Biologics, in the press release. “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Domainex for our Cbl-b targeted APN431 project and help us to quickly move to the next stage of its development. Domainex provides deep know-how in state-of-the-art structure based medicinal chemistry and assay development to help us achieve our ambitious goals. With our small molecule program APN431 we have an additional approach to target Cbl-b, next to our autologous cell therapy program APN401, which is currently in clinical Phase 1 development.”

Source: Apeiron Biologics​