MRC Technology and Chinese Academy of Science collaborate to identify new targets for drug discovery

The collaboration will combine the SIBCB’s research expertise in generating potential new drug targets, with MRC Technology’s experience in further developing early stage research for pharmaceutical application and commercialisation. The focus of the collaboration is to fast track innovative drugable targets to create potent and selective novel therapeutics.

MRC Technology supports Parkinson’s UK through its research grant terms approval service

Parkinson’s UK is the latest medical research funder to benefit from its recently launched research grant terms approval service. As an expert in commercialising intellectual property, MRC Technology is ideally placed to advise on how best to ensure that grant terms and conditions are comprehensive, meet industry standards, and have the best chance of supporting the development of novel treatments.

Justin Bryans in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery

Justin Bryans, MRC Technology's Director of Drug Discovery, has been quoted in a Nature Reviews Drug Discovery…

MRC Technology launches small molecule compound library access scheme

Scheme provides access to a representative subset of 9,000 compounds from 150,000 strong small molecule compound library to academic research institutes free of charge. The scheme has been launched by MRC Technology to provide academics with a high quality compound library for screening, to reduce academic spend on libraries less suited to screening, and to encourage groups to tap into MRC Technology’s drug discovery expertise for research programmes.

Intellect Neurosciences and MRC Technology announce humanization of next-generation monoclonal antibody to amyloid beta with reduced potential for inflammation in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients

MRC Technology and Intellect Neurosciences have completed humanization of 82E1, a mouse monoclonal antibody to create a high-affinity stabilized IgG4 therapeutic antibody that binds the amino terminus of amyloid beta without binding to the amyloid precursor protein (APP). The antibody is anticipated to promote the clearance of monomeric, oligomeric and plaque forms of amyloid beta, which accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients or following traumatic brain injury and in the retina of the eye in patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic neuropathy and glaucoma.

New postpartum haemorrhage drug discovery project launched

A collaboration between MRC Technology and Dr Andrew Blanks at the University of Warwick has been launched to develop inhibitors of inwardly rectifying potassium channel kir7.1 for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage.

GPCR collaboration with Heptares extended

The collaboration covers the structure and active conformations of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and other transmembrane proteins. Building upon their existing relationship with the MRC, and in particular the group led by Chris Tate at the MRC LMB, Heptares will own certain IP and technology in the field, including that pertaining to agonist-induced GPCR states responsible for cell signalling, a key area for drug design.

New ACTH-dependent Cushing’s Syndrome drug discovery project launched

Collaboration between MRC Technology and Queen Mary University of London to develop melanocortin receptor type 2 (MC2R) antagonists for the treatment of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s Syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).

New drug discovery collaborations with Queen Mary University of London launched

The first collaboration will develop selective formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonists for the treatment of ischaemia reperfusion injury. The second collaboration will develop positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and agonists of melanocortin receptor type 3 (MC3) for treatment of joint disease.