Syrrx, Novartis form strategic alliance
Companies to co-develop automated systems for protein structure analysis
Structural proteomics company Syrrx Inc. (San Diego) recently announced that it has formed a five-year strategic alliance with the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF; San Diego). Syrrx and GNF will co-develop automated systems to streamline and industrialize the process used to determine protein structure.
Under the terms of the agreement, Syrrx has been granted a worldwide, exclusive license to tools developed by GNF useful for cloning, protein expression, protein purification, protein crystallization, and the collection of X-ray diffraction data for use within the field of structural proteomics. GNF will take a minority equity position in Syrrx and a seat on Syrrx's board of directors. Initial technologies to emerge from the collaboration include high-throughput fermentation technology, high-throughput protein purification robotics, and a high-throughput protein crystallization system. These technologies enable Syrrx to test thousands of variants of any given protein to identify variants suitable for crystallization.
"This collaboration will enable our two organizations to combine our knowledge of biochemistry, computational biology, and engineering to reach goals efficiently," Syrrx CEO Wendell Wierenga stated in a company press release.
GNF was founded to leverage biology and engineering together to understand the complex workings of genomes. The institute, funded by the Novartis Research Foundation, uses functional genomics and advanced technologies to accelerate biological discovery. With its staff of over 150, GNF uses interdisciplinary research teams comprised of engineers, chemists, biologists, and computational biologists to develop and apply new approaches to life science research.
Syrrx Inc. uses its proprietary capabilities to rapidly generate protein structures from genetic information and then uses these protein structures to identify drug candidates. This process enables a unique "gene to drug" platform based on the ability to perform high-throughput, rational drug discovery.
For more information: Syrrx Inc., 10450 Science Center Dr., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121. Tel: 858-622-8528.
With contributions from Jim Pomager
Assistant Editor, Drug Discovery Online
Source: Syrrx Inc.