Dr Reddy Laboratories and Argenta Discovery in agreement for the joint development and commercialisation of a novel approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Both the parties will jointly develop the selected candidates from the pre-clinical stage up to Phase IIa (proof-of-concept).
On successful completion of a Phase IIa trial, the companies may either licence-out the candidate for further development and commercialization to a larger pharmaceutical company or continue the further co-development and commercialisation themselves.
Both Dr Reddy and Argenta have agreed to fund the joint collaboration up to proof-of-concept.
The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Commenting on the co-development deal, GV Prasad, chief executive officer, Dr Reddy Laboratories, said "We are excited about the R+D collaboration with Argenta as it provides us with an opportunity to leverage our drug discovery capabilities to target unmet medical needs in the respiratory therapeutic area.
"Argenta brings the significant respiratory drug development expertise required to pursue a novel approach for the treatment of COPD, asthma and cystic fibrosis.
"We are looking forward to a successful relationship".
Chris Ashton, chief executive officer, Argenta Discovery added: "We are delighted to be working with Dr Reddy, which is establishing a growing reputation within the global pharmaceutical industry.
"We are proud that Argenta's expertise and experience in drug development and respiratory disease has been recognised by Dr Reddy and we look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration".
Established in 1984, Dr Reddy's Laboratories is an emerging global pharmaceutical company with proven research capabilities.
The company is vertically integrated with a presence across the pharmaceutical value chain.
It produces finished dosage forms, active pharmaceutical ingredients and biotechnology products and markets them globally, with focus on India, USA, Europe and Russia.
The company conducts research in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular, anti-infectives, inflammation and cancer.
Argenta Discovery is a UK-based, privately-held drug discovery and development company, applying its integrated medicinal chemistry, biology, Admet and Cadd expertise to advance its clients' drug discovery programmes.
Argenta offers resources and expertise to direct complete discovery programmes, in many therapeutic areas, to pharmaceutical and biotech clients - from hit identification, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation projects.
Argenta also applies the same capabilities and expertise to its proprietary in-house therapeutics programmes, which focus on respiratory disease, specifically chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma and cystic fibrosis.
