Several recent drug discovery partnerships have been announced that reflect the importance of new technologies and techniques to the efficient development of new therapeutics.

ERS Genomics and Université de Montréal

ERS Genomics and Université de Montréal (UdeM) have announced an agreement that grants the university access to ERS’ CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio – including enabling the launch of two CRISPR/Cas9 screening facility platforms at UdeM’s Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer.

John Milad, CEO, ERS Genomics, commented: “Université de Montréal has a reputation for making outstanding contributions to scientific innovation. Providing this license and access to the CVC patent portfolio has enabled the launch of screening platforms which will play a role in uncovering new therapeutic targets and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact of their work on global medical challenges.”

Sheba Medical Center and Mana.bio

Sheba Medical Centerin Israel and ARC Innovation have signed a collaborative research agreement with Mana.bio to leverage its AI/ML-based programmable RNA delivery platform.

The joint effort will involve utilising Mana.bio’s AI-based RNA delivery system within Sheba’s research laboratories to target T cells from healthy donors. The results of this study will be processed and added to enhance Mana.bio’s AI prediction models.

The ultimate goal is to quickly develop a highly efficient system for delivering RNA molecules directly into patients’ T cells, empowering these cells to target specific diseases such as solid tumours, haematologic cancers, and potentially autoimmune disorders.

Arctoris and SpiroChem

CRO Arctoris and ETH Zürich spin-out SpiroChem have agreed a partnership that combines Arctoris’ automated biology capabilities with SpiroChem’s medicinal and synthetic chemistry platforms.

The partners hope the combination of biological and chemistry expertise provides a novel end-to-end drug discovery solution that will accelerate timelines from hit identification to candidate selection, and enhance data quality and reproducibility through automation.

Arctoris’ Ulysses platform combines robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence to generate reproducible data for drug discovery.

CrestOptics and Leica Microsystems

CrestOptics and Leica Microsystems have initiated a collaboration that enables Leica Microsystems to offer CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit within its new THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system.

CICERO’s design centres around the essential elements of epi-fluoresence and confocal microscopy, for which it was recognised as part of Microscopy Today’s Top 10 Best Microscopy Innovations Awards in July 2024.

The collaboration aims to provide a wider range of options and technologies for customers working with challenging large and 3D samples.

The THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk was launched at SfN’s Neuroscience 2024, taking place 5-9 October.

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW