On March 22, 2018 Evotec OAI AG, Hamburg, Germany (Neuer Markt: EVT), a supplier of integrated high-value added drug discovery services, and Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc., a drug discovery and development company (Nasdaq: RIGL), reported the signing of a medicinal chemistry agreement for the optimisation of small molecules focused on inhibitors of ubiquitin ligases (Press release, Evotec, MAR 22, 2018, View Source;announcements/press-releases/p/evotec-oai-and-rigel-pharmaceuticals-enter-into-medicinal-chemistry-agreement-to-identify-a-new-class-of-anti-cancer-compounds-called-ubiquitin-ligase-inhibitors-4642 [SID1234525393]). Ubiquitin ligases are involved in cell division and the progression of certain cancers. Research on this target class is an important new area in the field of oncology. Rigel is a leader in the field of ubiquitin ligases and their applications in oncologic, inflammatory and viral diseases.
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Under the terms of the agreement, Evotec OAI will use their leading-edge integrated drug discovery platform to select and synthesise lead compounds with optimised properties for Rigel to screen against their target proteins, and to identify novel scaffolds from Evotec OAI’s portfolio of validated chemistries, with the aim of identifying an IND candidate in 12 months. Initially, Evotec OAI’s molecular modelling expertise and computational platform will be used to perform SAR (structure activity relationship) analysis including pharmacophore modelling and in silico docking studies on selected Rigel small molecule drug leads. These proprietary compounds have been identified as most active in Rigel’s anti-cancer programme on ubiquitin ligases. This information will be used to select and synthesise the additional lead compounds.
Additionally, Evotec OAI will use their computational chemistry expertise to analyse Rigel’s corporate library and to identify additional scaffolds to increase the overall diversity of the library whilst retaining the drug and lead-like properties. Through the agreement, Rigel will also gain access to Evotec OAI’s lead discovery library for screening against the ligase and additional Rigel targets.
Rigel will provide funding to Evotec OAI for services conducted during this programme. In addition, Evotec OAI may receive future milestone payments if discovery projects meet defined goals and products are commercialised.
"We look forward to building a partnership with Rigel in their very exciting area of ubiquitin ligase research," said Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec OAI. "Using our world class drug discovery platform will enable us to assist Rigel in accelerating their drug discovery programme."
"Rigel has built a very strong capability in ubiquitin ligase research and drug development, including the design of numerous biochemical and cellular assays to analyze the biology and proteomics of ligases, a robust and efficient high throughput screening program, a focused chemistry program with promising initial chemical hits and an experienced preclinical oncology development team," said James M. Gower, Rigel’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "This collaboration marks our second this month in the area of ubiquitin ligases, and Evotec’s expertise in computational and medicinal chemistry will contribute greatly to our ability to rapidly identify a clinical candidate in this promising new area of research."