Deal between Ensemble and Alexion will target ultra-rare disorders

USA-based drug discovery firm Ensemble Therapeutics has announced the initiation of a drug discovery collaboration with a subsidiary of US drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALXN).

Ensemble is developing Ensemblins, a novel class of small-molecule therapeutics with the potential to modulate targets typically addressed by biologics. The company said the collaboration will deploy Ensemble’s proprietary drug discovery platforms for several undisclosed drug targets identified by Alexion to create “highly innovative small molecule therapeutic candidates.”

Under the terms of the collaboration, Ensemble will screen its Ensemblin collection of more than 10 million macrocycles against several disease drug targets specified by Alexion, utilizing Ensemble’s extensive medicinal chemistry capabilities to discover new small-molecule clinical candidates. Alexion will have the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize candidates arising from the collaboration. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed but Ensemble will receive an upfront payment and research support, and can earn additional payments upon the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones.