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-- UCB and ChemBridge Corporation (and affiliates) today announced a major collaboration in discovery chemistry. UCB’s drug discovery efforts based on multiple research intensive discovery chemistry projects are to be advanced by UCB-funded ChemBridge scientists. Further details and financial terms were not disclosed.
“We are very excited to be working with ChemBridge Corporation to complement UCB’s in-house activities with novel discovery chemistry libraries,” said Edmond Differding, Vice President Global Chemistry, UCB. “UCB will provide validated drug targets, and using the resource of ChemBridge’s recognized expertise in the field of discovery chemistry will speed up UCB’s discovery efforts in neurological diseases. This will rapidly advance our lead generation process in line with our patent protection strategy,” he continued.
Eugene Vaisberg, Chairman & CEO of ChemBridge Corporation and ChemBridge Research Laboratories, Inc. (CRL) sees UCB emerging as one of the leading European biopharmaceutical companies with strong expertise in both protein and small molecule therapeutics.
“We are delighted to enter into this kind of research collaboration with UCB,” he said, “and look forward to having the opportunity to contribute to a number of projects in UCB’s advanced small molecule drug discovery program.”
Dr. Sven H. Wagner, Director of Business Development at ChemBridge Research Laboratories, Inc. (CRL), welcomed UCB’s decision to choose ChemBridge as an integral partner to support their drug discovery and development goals. “For us, this first agreement between our two companies marks the beginning of an exciting and dynamic relationship”, he concluded.
UCB (www.ucb-group.com) is a global biopharmaceutical leader with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, specialising in the fields of central nervous system disorders, allergy and respiratory diseases, immune and inflammatory disorders and oncology. UCB key products are Keppra® (antiepileptic), Xyzal® and Zyrtec® (antiallergics), Nootropil® (cerebral function regulator), Tussionex® (antitussive) and Metadate®CD / Equasym XL® (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). UCB employs over 8,300 people operating in over 100 countries. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels, achieved sales of € 3,068 million and a net profit of € 362 million in 2004, including Surface Specialties.
ChemBridge Corporation, www.chembridge.com, is a leading global discovery chemistry CRO with an impeccable track record of quality and deliverability. The privately-held, self-funded ChemBridge was founded in Chicago in 1993 and has grown to a global company with 350 employees. ChemBridge has its corporate headquarters in San Diego, European offices in the UK, and a marketing agency in Japan. It also operates a large, state-of-the-art offshore discovery chemistry research site in Moscow, Russia. Over 400 pharmaceutical and biotech companies and universities worldwide have taken advantage of ChemBridge’s portfolio of advanced discovery chemistry services and products, including its library of 600,000 diverse drug-like small molecule compounds.
ChemBridge Research Laboratories, Inc. (CRL), www.chembridgeresearch.com, is a chemistry-based small molecule drug discovery company founded in 2000 as a spin-off of ChemBridge Corporation. Located in San Diego, in custom built, state-of-the-art research facilities, the privately held CRL has 58 employees including 48 scientists (31 Ph.D.) led by research management with substantial experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. CRL focuses on collaborative medicinal chemistry support, hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs, and consistently exceeds the goals on its research collaborations including major multi-year alliances with Pfizer, Inc. and Merck & Co. CRL’s internal drug discovery efforts leverage the company’s comprehensive medicinal chemistry platform and its core expertise in kinase and GPCR areas and encompass one obesity and two oncology programs.
Global Pharma Communications
UCB Pharma
Tel: + 32 (0) 2 559 9359
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7774 23528
Email: carolyn.brown@ucb-group.com
Corporate Communications
UCB Group
Tel: + 32 (0) 2 559 95 88
Email: laurence.battaille@ucb-group.com
Chairman & CEO, ChemBridge Corp.
ChemBridge Research Laboratories, Inc.
Tel: + 1 858 451 7400 ext. 110
Email: gene@chembridge.com
Investor Relations Manager
UCB Group
Tel: + 32 (0) 2 559 92 64
Mobile. + 32 (0) 478 998 237v
Email: arnaud.denis@ucb-group.com
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