NEW YORK, Sept. 6 – MediChem and Rigel Pharmaceuticals announced a two-year structural proteomics collaboration to search for new treatments in the area of ubiquitin ligases, which are involved in cell division and the progression of some cancers.
Under the terms of the deal, MediChem's Emerald BioStructures structural proteomics unit will express, purify, and crystallize proteins that Rigel is focusing on in its oncology program.
"Ubiquitin ligase activity has become a very important and promising area of discovery research for cancer therapeutics," Donald Payan, chief scientific officer for Rigel, said in a statement released Wednesday.
"The structural information that we gain through our collaboration with MediChem will have a significant impact on the outcome of our drug discovery programs," he added.
Rigel will pay MediChem for research it conducts and will also provide milestone payments for completion of specified scientific achievements. Rigel will retain rights to certain technology, data, and improvements to MediChem's structural proteomics technology platform.
Rigel of South San Francisco, Calif., will also grant Chicago-based MediChem a right of discussion on all future medicinal chemistry partnering opportunities as related to the targets researched during this collaboration.