Monash’s research recruited
February 2, 2012
MONASH University’s Institute of
Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) has
entered into a collaborative
agreement with European drug
giant, Les Laboratoires Servier, for
the drug discovery and research on
G Protein-Coupled Receptors
(GPCRs).
G protein-coupled receptors
account for around 2% of the
human genome, making them the
largest class of therapeutic drug
targets in the human genome.
They are the targets for nearly 50%
of all currently used therapeutic drugs.
The collaboration will initially run
for three years, and will make use
of Monash’s “capability in the
identification of novel GPCR
targets, in the understanding of
GPCR functional biology and in the
design of new chemical entities to
modulate GPCR activity”.
“MIPS has developed GPCR
expertise comprising technology,
research facilities and world leading
scientists that enable it to conduct
fundamental research, drug
discovery and preclinical drug
development activities on GPCR
targets with therapeutic potential,”
a joint statement from the pair said.
The three year project will revolve
around a research program
including known and novel GPCR
targets, covering various potential
therapeutic fields including
metabolism, cardiology,
neurology and psychiatry,
rheumatology, and oncology.
In return, Servier will provide
annual support for the research, as
well as milestone payments and
support for up to 15 FTEs to work
exclusively on collaborative projects.
“This partnership is a terrific
collaborative research opportunity
which allows us to translate our
research into drug development
opportunities,” said Prof Bill
Charman, Director of MIPS and Dean
of the Faculty of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash
University.
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