Xenome in new UK partnership

Drug developer Xenome is adding UK biotech TheraSci to the list of partner firms screening Xenome's venom-based peptide molecules against validated drug targets.

Simultaneously, the unlisted Brisbane biotech is pushing toward the first clinical trials of its lead drug candidate XEN 2471, a pain-killing molecule derived from the venom of a marine shellfish.

TheraSci is the third offshore company with whom Xenome has signed joint venture agreements and will be testing its molecules against enzyme and ion channel targets.

Xenome earlier this year struck similar deals with ion channel therapeutics companies Icagen in the US and Ionix Pharmaceuticals in the UK to screen its library of bioactive peptide molecules. They are based on structures isolated from venomous marine animals and could hold hope for long-term treatment of patients suffering chronic pain.

The latest collaboration, like the others, calls for sharing equally in any IP or commercial returns and Xenome hopes to add to its lengthening list of screening partners in 2003, according to CEO Tony Evans.

On another front Xenome has completed what Evans called a "successful" pre-IND meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning XEN 2174.

Investigational New Drugs (IND) submissions are required by the FDA before any new drug can be tested on humans.

The positive outcome from the meeting leaves Xenome well-placed to move into phase I safety trials of XEN 2174 on human patients next year, Evans said.