Therapeutic area expertise
BioFocus delivers targets, hits, leads and clinical candidates across all major therapeutic areas. Three areas where we have demonstrated strong capability are neurodegeneration, inflammation and rare and neglected diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases
We have preclinical CNS ability with key biology, medicinal chemistry and ADME scientists originating from Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth neuroscience groups. Collectively this group has been responsible for the discovery of 5 marketed drugs in the CNS space.
BioFocus has driven over 20 neuroscience-based programs, yielding 26 novel targets* and more than 10 lead series which have been/are being progressed to candidates for our partners. We have worked across the spectrum of CNS disorders including neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s)**, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression and pain, with more than 10 partners to date.
Inflammatory diseases
The discovery of Galapagos’ GLPG0634 JAK1 inhibitor, currently in phase II studies for rheumatoid arthritis, is a clear illustration of the value generated by BioFocus research in inflammation. GLPG0634 is one of many clinical candidates that have been identified through phenotypic screening for novel targets using our proprietary target discovery platform, screening our SoftFocus compound libraries, and subsequent integrated medicinal chemistry, biology and ADME hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs.
Rare and neglected diseases
BioFocus has been involved with rare and neglected diseases through collaborations with various non-profit organizations and patient foundations including CHDI Foundation, OneWorld Health (OWH) and the Usher III Initiative.
Our work in the areas of Huntington’s disease and Usher syndrome type III highlight two collaborations aiming at therapies for rare diseases. The delivery of a clinical candidate for childhood diarrheal disease by BioFocus and OWH provides an example of our efforts in neglected diseases***.
Contact us to discuss specific research.
*Thathiah, et al. The orphan G protein coupled receptor 3 modulates amyloid-beta peptide generation in neurons. Science, 323, 946-951, (2009).
**BioFocus — a partner for research into neurodegenerative diseases. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. Volume 10, Number 12, (2011).
***Developing novel antisecretory drugs to treat infectious diarrhea. E. L. de Hostos, R. K. M. Choy, T. Nguyen Future Med. Chem. 2011, 3, 1317.