Shire gets exclusive option for Heptares A2A program for CNS diseases

10 May 2011

Closely-held UK-based drug discovery firm Heptares Therapeutics says it has signed an exclusive option agreement with Ireland-headquartered Shire (LSE: SHP) for a novel adenosine A2A antagonist discovered by Heptares and currently in preclinical development.

Adenosine A2A is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in the regulation of dopaminergic pathways in the brain. Recently, inhibition of the A2A receptor has been proved to be clinically effective in treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and may offer benefits in additional CNS diseases.

The Heptares A2A program reflects a new approach to this GPCR target. Heptares stabilized the A2A receptor using its proprietary StaR technology, determined the receptor’s binding characteristics through Biophysical Mapping, and resolved its 3D crystal structure using x-ray crystallography. This advanced knowledge of the target enabled Heptares scientists to discover entirely new types of chemical structures for inhibiting the A2A receptor.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK