PsychoGenics Inc., a leader in in vivo phenotypic drug discovery, has reported that the company achieved a milestone in its drug discovery and development collaboration with Roche.

PsychoGenics and Roche entered into a drug discovery and development agreement in May, 2008 to  combine their complementary strengths and expertise to identify a new generation of treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. PsychoGenics evaluated a library of Roche compounds, using its proprietary in  vivo drug discovery technologies, leading to the discovery of a new drug candidate with the potential for a  novel mode of action. Roche has decided to exercise  its option to develop this drug candidate, thereby  triggering a milestone payment to PsychoGenics.
   
PsychoGenics’ technologies combine broad  in vivo behavioural expertise with recent developments in  robotics, computer vision, and bioinformatics to evaluate drug candidates for potential utility across the  spectrum of Central Nervous System (CNS) disease indications. Working in partnership with  pharmaceutical and biotech companies, PsychoGenics has been instrumental in identifying therapeutic  potential for discontinued compounds as well as early stage compounds including some with novel “first-inclass” mechanisms of action.

 “We are pleased to have achieved this milestone which is further validation of PsychoGenics’ phenotypic  approach to CNS drug discovery. We  have enjoyed an excellent working  relationship with the talented Roche discovery team and look forward to supporting the development of this exciting program as well as other research programmes.” remarked Emer Leahy, Ph.D., PsychoGenics’ president & chief executive officer.