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Our drug discovery approach is based on the tight integration and rapid cycle
times among our chemistry, biology, and pharmaceutical development groups. Drug
candidates are typically identified using novel chemical structures as
molecular probes in cell-based assays that are designed to preserve the
complexity of biological signaling. Early in vivo testing and a rapid
optimization process allow for high productivity of promising leads, improved
profiles for our compounds, and, in some cases, the discovery of novel pathways
or mechanisms of action with the potential to define entirely new categories of
treatment.
Our approach is based on the integration of the following capabilities and
resources:
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Unique chemical library.
Our chemical library contains over 120,000 small molecules and numerous plant
extracts collected from universities, non-profit institutions, other
organizations, and commercial sources.
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Broad set of screening assays.
We have high throughput screening capabilities linked to our chemical library
that facilitate the rapid identification of new drug candidates. We have
developed a wide variety of biochemical and cell-based in vitro assays designed
to identify promising compounds for treating cancer, immune disorders and other
diseases, which form the basis of our initial screening efforts. In addition to
assays for identifying new compounds, we have also developed assays we use for
early optimization of safety and pharmacokinetic properties.
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Robust in vivo testing capabilities.
We have a substantial in vivo testing facility we use for evaluating the
safety, efficacy, and pharmaceutical properties of our compounds, including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicology properties. The
facility is equipped for detailed experimental measurements and surgical tasks,
and we have in-house experience with approximately 90 individual animal models
of disease, including oncology, inflammatory diseases, metabolic disease, and
pain. The early testing of compounds in vivo, and our ability to complete these
tests internally without dependencies on third parties, is a valuable advantage
in our ability to rapidly optimize the pharmaceutical properties of our most
promising compounds.
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Multi-functional chemistry capabilities.
We possess a full range of chemistry capabilities, including medicinal
chemistry, analytical chemistry, formulation, process development, natural
products isolation, and computational chemistry. Our approach, which involves
chemistry-driven discovery combined with biology-driven validation, has been
applied successfully on many drug discovery programs, including the programs
that produced its three clinical candidates.
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Novel target elucidation. Our scientists use expression
profiling, RNA interference, affinity purification, proteomics, and other
methods to identify the therapeutic intervention points of novel, promising
compounds.
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