PlaqueTec & RxCelerate Collaborate on Early Phase Drug Discovery for Coronary Artery Disease

PlaqueTec and RxCelerate recently announced the successful completion of a collaboration to assess small molecules identified from an initial cheminformatics drug screen in a bespoke cell-based assay developed by RxCelerate on one of PlaqueTec’s targets discovered in pilot studies.

Identification of suitable candidates from an initial virtual drug screen against a novel target in CAD, discovered by PlaqueTec, formed the basis for the collaboration with RxCelerate. The collaborative project was aimed at assessing the small molecules in a functional cell-based assay offered through RxCelerate’s bespoke services. The project has enabled the lead compounds to be characterised successfully, demonstrating the value of the assay in the progress of PlaqueTec’s mission to endotype CAD and develop personalised interventions to transform patient care. If the target is validated in PlaqueTec’s ongoing BIOPATTERN trial, the collaborators plan to bring forward other lead compounds for further investigation, alongside further drug screening for other new targets identified and validated in BIOPATTERN.

The collaboration between PlaqueTec and RxCelerate was a continuation of an initial pilot project carried out with Medicines Discovery Catapult. The early project was aimed at using computational approaches to determine candidate small molecules with activity against the novel target discovered by PlaqueTec.

Dr. Diane Proudfoot, Chief Scientific Officer, PlaqueTec, said “Our successful collaboration with RxCelerate has enabled the characterisation of a number of small molecules against a novel candidate target in CAD. Once further targets are identified and validated through our BIOPATTERN trial, we hope to continue collaborating with RxCelerate to identify additional small molecule candidates whilst validating and providing new critical insights into the pathobiology of CAD.”

“At RxCelerate, we are proud to provide bespoke solutions to our clients to support any or all phases of their drug discovery and development campaigns,” added Dr. Jill Reckless, Chief Executive Officer, RxCelerate. “Through this successful project, we have continued to demonstrate our focus on generating high-quality data and delivering complex projects on schedule through collaborative and open communication with clients. We really enjoyed working with PlaqueTec on this innovative project and hope to continue supporting its research into CAD as its BIOPATTERN trial progresses.”

PlaqueTec is pursuing a better understanding of the biological mechanisms of coronary artery disease (CAD) to advance the development of precision medicine. CAD, where atherosclerotic plaque build-up narrows or blocks the arteries that supply blood to the heart, is a leading cause of death globally. Current treatment approaches are one-size-fits-all and therefore ineffective for many patients. To address this, PlaqueTec has developed a proprietary technology and data analysis platform to endotype patients and uncover potential biomarkers of coronary vascular function and plaque progression. A more detailed understanding of patient endotypes will support drug development by identifying new targets in specific patient groups, reducing clinical trial sizes and costs, and increasing success rates, ultimately improving outcomes for patients. The company is based at the world-renowned Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK. Follow PlaqueTec on LinkedIn @PlaqueTec Ltd. and Twitter @PlaqueTec_UK.

RxCelerate is an outsourced drug discovery and development company based in Cambridge, UK, founded in 2013. It has rapidly grown to become one of the leading providers of drug discovery and development services in the UK. RxCelerate operates a unique model, offering collaborative strategic thinking to clients to help design and execute every aspect of their research and development plans. RxCelerate offers a comprehensive suite of services covering the entire discovery and development spectrum, including in silico design and discovery, antibody discovery, synthetic and medicinal chemistry, bioanalysis, in vitro services, preclinical services, and project management. Clients can also access RxCelerate’s proprietary platform technologies, including RxNfinity for rapid in silico screening, the Galaxy platform for generating diverse ‘clinic-ready’ antibodies, and ProQuant for precise bottom-up proteomics across diverse biological samples. The combination of integrated teams and unique technologies allows RxCelerate to deliver pharma-grade drug candidates quickly and at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches.

RxCelerate has a team of more than 100 employees based in 25,000 square feet of premium laboratory and office space in the Dorothy Hodgkin Building at the Babraham Research Campus, approximately five miles south of Cambridge, UK, as well as offices in Boston, MA. For more information, please visit www.rxcelerate.com or contact us at info@rxcelerate.com.