Argenta Discovery Ltd has extended its collaboration with Cambridge-based drug discovery company Amedis Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Under the terms of the agreement, first announced in June 2002, Argenta is creating a series of novel, silicon-based small molecule inhibitors and screening them against a range of medicinally relevant protease enzyme targets.

Amedis has capitalized on its expertise in the applications of silicon chemistry in drug discovery to identify a range of silicon-based inhibitors to specifically target certain protease enzymes across several therapeutically relevant families. Argenta is using sophisticated synthetic chemistry techniques to create these compounds, which have applications as potential anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-cancer agents. By exploiting the subtle chemical differences between carbon and silicon, Amedis is generating silicon- based compounds that can display advantageous medicinal properties compared to their carbon-based analogues.

Dr. Anthony Baxter, Argenta's CEO, said: "The extension of this collaboration is testimony to Argenta's chemistry expertise. The smooth progression of a project not only involving complex silicon synthetic chemistry but also assay development and biological screening is possible at Argenta where chemists and biologists are talking, planning and working together from day one."

Dr. John Montana, CEO of Amedis, added: "Amedis has captured the lead in silicon-based medicinal chemistry. Strategic in-licensing has played a key part in achieving this position and we continue to strengthen our lead through the development and application of proprietary in-house technologies, including our recently unveiled 'Silicon Switch' approach. We are delighted with Argenta's contribution to this project, it has rapidly delivered high quality compounds and we are looking forward to continuing our collaboration."