Isogenica Ltd reported that it has entered into a new research collaboration with AstraZeneca. The research programme centres on the use of Isogenica's CIS display technology for the discovery of peptides which are specific for, and biologically active against, targets provided by AstraZeneca. The collaboration builds upon a successful pilot study that was initiated by the parties in 2004, a release stated.

Isogenica's CIS display technology provides a novel and effective means of rapidly identifying peptides and polypeptides that bind with high affinity and fine specificity to any given molecular target. CIS display can be widely applied to the drug discovery and development process as well as to the discovery and development of non-therapeutic products.

"We are very pleased to welcome back AstraZeneca as a returning customer" said Dr Kevin FitzGerald, Isogenica's CEO. "We look forward to re-establishing the excellent working relationship that was a key feature of our previous collaboration".

Dr Paul Leff, VP of Discovery Enabling Capabilities and Sciences at AstraZeneca said "We are very pleased to be working with Isogenica again. They have a robust technology that can provide significant opportunities within the lead generation and target validation phases of the drug discovery process."

Isogenica was formed in December 2000 to develop and commercialise innovative in vitro molecular evolution technologies. The company has its research facility at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge UK.