Dompé pha.r.ma s.p.a. and Axxam s.r.l. announced a research collaboration for the discovery and development of novel drugs based on GPCR targets.

"The partnership between Dompé pha.r.ma and Axxam brings together the know-how and expertise of each company in drug discovery and development," said Sergio Dompé, president of the holding company Dompé Farmaceutici. "We believe that by combining our excellence in product research and development we will increase the likelihood and speed of discovering and developing new therapeutics for patients," he added.

Scientists from both companies will contribute to the drug discovery and development process for relevant disease targets. Steps in the process include target identification, assay development, library assembly, screening, medicinal chemistry, hit to lead optimization, pharmacology, and preclinical and clinical development. Dompé pha.r.ma will bring expertise in the field of medicinal chemistry, oriented to the rational drug design of small molecular weight GPCRs modulators and in the pre-clinical and clinical development of innovative drugs. Axxam will contribute its own experience and know-how in target biology, assay development and high-throughput screening.

"Axxam is very pleased to enter this collaboration with Dompé pha.r.ma that will benefit from our competences in the early drug discovery field," said Dr. Stefan Lohmer, co-founder and CEO of Axxam.

The number of disease targets, associated therapeutic areas and financial terms of the research collaboration are not disclosed by the companies.