Therapeutic areas

The scientific team at ProXara has successfully developed a portfolio of cell-based assays and in-vitro assays against important therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammation. Current activities are focussed on primary and secondary screening of internal compound libraries and lead optimisation of a series of proprietary drug-like compounds.

Internal Drug discovery programmes

ProXara is focusing its target discovery process on proteins involved in a variety of critical cell signaling processes implicated in diseases in the Company's core therapeutic areas, namely cancer and inflammation.

At ProXara we have the expertise to configure cell-based assays using cell imaging technologies, focusing on targets that are currently difficult or impossible to configure into HTS formats.

Central to the Company's portfolio are targets which require movement from one cellular compartment to another to perform their function (translocation). In this way drugs can be aimed at interfering with the subcellular targeting domain of the protein rather than towards its catalytic activity. As a result, drugs with greater specificity and fewer toxic side effects are highly likely to emerge.

Using both proprietary and public domain targets, ProXara are currently carrying out internal drug discovery programmes through screening against chemical libraries. Lead candidates currently undergoing optimisation may be licensed for clinical development by partner pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

ProXara is also looking to licence some of its high value targets for conducting screening on behalf of partners. The Company will also out-licence its targets and assays for incorporation into its partner's own screening and validation activities.

ProXara will also carry out cell-based or in-vitro screen development on behalf of partners as part of a collaborative programme.

By taking a cell-based approach in primary screening the Company is able to screen for leads against its targets as they exist in their natural context of the living cell.

To complement our cell-based approach, ProXara has also established in-vitro assay methodologies for its targets which will permit detailed structure-activity relationships to be analysed.