Iconix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the rapidly emerging field of chemogenomics, and Abbott Laboratories announced a technology alliance and research collaboration to apply Iconix's chemogenomics technology in Abbott's drug discovery and development efforts. The agreement provides for an upfront payment, technology access fee, research funding, and clinical milestones. Additional financial terms are not being disclosed.
Abbott will access Iconix's DrugMatrix system, the world's largest source of information on the genomic effects of drug and chemical treatments, and Iconix's library of Drug Signatures. Iconix's scientists have analyzed the thousands of chemogenomic experiments contained in DrugMatrix to discover hundreds of Drug Signatures-genomic biomarkers that may predict with great precision the potential toxicological, mechanistic, and side effects of a drug candidate. Abbott has also secured certain rights to employ Iconix's technology to identify biomarkers for use in the clinical development and commercialization of Abbott's therapeutic products and for the use of the biomarkers to develop and commercialize diagnostic products.
A major area of combined research under the agreement is the development of in vitro, high-throughput gene expression-based screening of early stage compounds for potential liver toxicity. Abbott and Iconix research in this area will build on the partners' experience with in vivo-based predictive toxicology models to extend chemogenomic analysis into the in vitro domain using both non-human and human cell types. Abbott expects to integrate the resulting predictive in vitro Drug Signatures into its early stage drug screening efforts. Iconix retains rights to commercialize the platform to other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and in other applications.
"Abbott is pleased to partner with Iconix and gain access to their leading technology in chemogenomics,' said James Summers, divisional vice president, Advanced Technology, Drug Discovery, Abbott Laboratories. "Like Iconix, Abbott has been a pioneer in the development of predictive toxicogenomic methods and tools. Iconix's technology will enhance our understanding of potential drug candidates and can be applied throughout Abbott's research and development process."
"We're excited that Abbott has chosen to work with Iconix to access our chemogenomics technology," said Jim Neal, Iconix's CEO. "This demonstrates our leadership in the chemogenomics arena. We are confident that in the near future chemogenomics will become a key tool in drug discovery and development and an integral part of regulatory submissions."