NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – AstraZeneca and the Broad Institute today said they will collaborate on identifying new compounds that target bacterial and viral infections.
The alliance will employ Broad's expertise in bacterial genomics and biochemistry with its chemical library of 100,000 customized molecules known as Diversity-Oriented Synthesis compounds. The library is "designed to contain molecular shapes and structures not found anywhere else that can hit even the most challenging biological targets," the partners said in a joint statement.
Under the collaboration, screening and hit-to-lead efforts will be conducted at the Broad, while AstraZeneca will optimize, develop, and commercialize potential compounds.
Despite the growth of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, only two new classes of antibiotics have been introduced to the market in the past 30 years, the partners noted.
"We believe new and collaborative approaches between the private and public sectors will help speed the discovery and development of new treatments, particularly for antibiotic-resistant infections," Manos Perros, VP and head of AstraZeneca's Infection Innovative Medicines Unit, said in the statement.