Heptares launches new research collaboration with Tokyo-based university

Heptares Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan's Sosei Group (TSE: 4565), has launched a new research collaboration with Juntendo University in Tokyo, Japan.

The new collaboration is the fourth ORBIT program, a collaborative research initiative launched by Heptares in February 2016, for which the company has set aside $6.5 million.

The research team, led by Takehiko Yokomizo in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, will focus on the bespoke design and profiling of novel leukotriene receptor modulators in intractable skin/intestinal ulcers.

Chief scientific officer Fiona Marshall said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Professor Yokomizo and his group at Juntendo University. Their extensive experience and knowledge of leukotriene receptors, combined with our own structure-based design expertise, forms a strong basis from which to generate novel selective, small molecules with the potential to address difficult-to-treat wounds. We look forward to a productive relationship.”

Professor Yokomizo said: “Heptares has a strong global reputation based on its GPCR drug design capabilities. We are excited to collaborate on this new project, which has the potential to significantly advance our knowledge of the links between leukotriene receptor and disease, and to progress new drug design strategies in this area.”

Other initiatives in the ORBIT program are taking place at Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge and New York University.