LeadXpro achieved a world-first milestone in partnership with Cumulus Oncology: solving high-resolution agonist and antagonist protein structures of GPR68, in their drug discovery project for therapeutic intervention in oncology and inflammation.
Cumulus Oncology, Europe’s first oncology-focused biotech creation company, announces that, in partnership with its collaborator leadXpro (LXP), key milestones have been achieved in their protein structure driven GPR68 drug discovery project. As a result, Cumulus has licensed the small molecule compounds and associated IP created during this collaboration and will continue the program to lead optimization and beyond.
In July 2023, Cumulus Oncology and LXP announced a collaboration to develop small molecules against GPR68, an important proton sensing G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), using the latest cutting-edge computational, biophysical and structural biology technologies. Achieving a world first, LXP has solved high-resolution antagonist protein structures of GPR68, rapidly informing compound design. This has enabled the partnership to identify, in under 12 months, a series of potent and selective small molecules for therapeutic intervention in cancer and inflammation, leading to this licensing event. The collaboration will now move to an accelerated drug optimization phase leveraging these established cutting-edge rational drug design and computational techniques.
LXP will receive a share in revenues from future commercialization of the project. Further financial details are not disclosed. As the GPR68 program progresses, Cumulus plans to file for regulatory approval to start clinical development through its Swiss-based portfolio company, GIO Therapeutics, which has been incorporated to develop a portfolio of GPCR targeting assets. The GPR68 program represents the first program that will be developed by GIO Therapeutics.