Priaxon, an emerging pharmaceutical company based in Germany, has formed a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to research and develop small molecule modulators of protein-protein-interactions.

Priaxon will provide its innovative and proprietary small molecule drug discovery expertise which is particularly suited to investigating the modulation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). PPIs play an important role in many cell signaling pathways and cell-surface receptor-ligand interactions that become dysregulated in disease states.

The collaboration will work to identify and advance candidates from hits to leads for pre-clinical development, with the long term interest of developing and commercializing drug candidates. The agreement has been signed following a successful pilot project. Financial details as well as therapeutic fields of the collaboration are not disclosed.

"Using the strength of its unique drug discovery platform Priaxplore, Priaxon will develop new small molecule modulators for hard-to-drug PPI targets," said Dr. Juergen Kolb, CEO of Priaxon. "Our collaboration with GSK and its experts provides the resources and the capabilities to drive these programs forward. We are looking forward to working together with the goal to develop small molecule modulators for various protein-protein interaction of high potential."