Evotec AG has agreed a collaboration with Apeiron Biologics AG to identify small molecule modulators of the Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonistic Modulator or DREAM, a novel target implicated in pain.
Evotec will now apply its expertise in cellular assay development to move the project into hit identification.
Hans Loibner, Chief Executive Officer at Apeiron Biologics, said, “Combining our two companies’ skills is an excellent way to move forward with this innovative and promising project. We have worked with Evotec in the past and continue to be impressed by the quality of the work performed there.”
Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer at Evotec, said Apeiron is one of the most exciting young biotech companies in Europe. “We are happy that through the optimal use of R&D outsourcing Evotec can add value here.”
DREAM is a key molecule for pain regulation, which inhibits the synthesis of the endogenous opioid precursor prodynorphin, and therefore may represent a new target for the treatment of pain. In knock-out mice, loss of DREAM broadly reduces pain, ranging from acute chemical, heat, or mechanical to internal, inflammatory, and chronic neuropathic pain.
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