UCB, a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company, has sealed a research agreement with Santa Clara, Calif.-based ConfometRx to enable the discovery of novel medicines addressing unmet medical needs in neuroscience.

The terms of the agreement, whose details are not disclosed, include an up-front payment, Research funding and success-based milestones.

Under this two-year multi-target agreement, UCB and ConfometRx will leverage structural biology to gain insight into G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) modulation towards the design of differentiated drugs. GPCRs are the largest family of signaling proteins in the human genome. They are involved in virtually all physiological processes and represent the single largest target class for medicines on the market.

 “We look forward to working with ConfometRx as part of our continued strategy to innovate in drug discovery, transforming knowledge and insight into health-changing invention,” said Ismail Kola, executive vice president and president, NewMedicines, UCB. “The collaboration with ConfometRx is another example of UCB’s strategies at work where we are continuing to build supernetworks of innovation that are aimed at creating superior and sustainable value for patients.”

Tong Sun Kobilka, CEO of ConfometRx, said, “We are delighted to be working with UCB’s world-class central nervous system research group to enhance their drug development activities. With over 20 years of experience working in the coupled receptor field and our unique technological approach, we believe that we can bring significant value to UCB’s novel drug development process. We look forward to working closely with UCB’s R&D teams.”