1 February 2021 - - UK-based specialist ion channel CRO and drug discovery company Metrion Biosciences Ltd and Japan-based biopharmaceutical group Sosei Group Corp. (TSX: 4565) will apply Sosei Heptares' structure-based drug design expertise and platform to ion channels for the first time through a new strategic collaboration, the companies said.

Ion channels are a class of integral membrane proteins that regulate the flow of ions across the cell membrane as a means of conducting signals between cells and their environment.

They are well established drug targets, particularly in neurological and cardiovascular diseases, but many remain undrugged or poorly drugged, and may be tractable to structure-based approaches.

The collaboration aims to demonstrate the potential of Sosei Heptares' SBDD technologies to address disease-associated ion channels and work towards establishing a leadership position in this area, in a similar way that it has done for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

As a first step, Sosei Heptares and Metrion will combine their respective capabilities in a drug discovery program to identify novel, highly specific drug leads for further development against a single ion channel associated with neurological diseases.

Metrion will contribute intellectual property, know-how and use of screening models for the nominated ion channel target.

Sosei Heptares will apply its technologies for structure determination studies and SBDD. Sosei Heptares will have exclusive, full global rights to all molecules identified and directed to the targets for development by Sosei Heptares.

No further financial details are disclosed.