Argenta Discovery Ltd, an independent discovery company, has entered into a drug discovery collaboration with Cambridge-based Amedis Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Argenta will work to create a series of highly novel small molecule inhibitors of a selected number of medicinally relevant protease enzymes, the company reported.

The work is focused on Amedis' broad patent estate of novel protease inhibitors, which has been generated using its proprietary chemistry technology. Amedis is applying this technology to the generation of novel molecules that selectively inhibit members of the metallo and aspartyl protease enzyme families. Compounds from this patent estate also have the potential to inhibit serine and cysteine protease enzymes. This approach provides the opportunity to exploit a wide range of therapeutically relevant targets across a range of diseases including bacterial and viral infections and cancer.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Anthony Baxter, CEO of Argenta Discovery, said, "We are delighted to be working with Amedis on a project which combines extremely sophisticated chemistry and biochemical assay development. It is further evidence that integrating world class chemistry and biology is extremely attractive to companies seeking to outsource in drug discovery."

Dr. John Montana, CEO of Amedis, added, "Combining our proprietary chemistry expertise with the skills and critical mass that Argenta can bring to bear on this project will allow us to progress this exciting area of research rapidly."