MONTREAL & SHERBROOKE, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cyclenium Pharma Inc., an emerging pharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of novel drug candidates based on proprietary macrocyclic chemistry and McGill University, one of the world’s leading post-secondary institutions, have entered into multiple research agreements designed to discover novel modulators for promising biological targets of pharmacological interest. Involving investigators from the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC), the Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, and the McGill High Throughput Screening (HTS) facility, these collaborations will provide McGill researchers with immediate access to Cyclenium’s proprietary QUEST Library™ of next generation macrocyclic molecules and associated optimization capabilities. The initial objective of these exploratory efforts is to identify macrocyclic compounds capable of interacting with specific therapeutic targets, including several involving protein-protein interactions, being studied in the various McGill laboratories, thereby providing tools to improve the understanding of their involvement in various disease states, with the longer term goal of discovering novel pharmacological or diagnostic agents acting at these targets.

“Such relationships will ultimately benefit not only the healthcare of Canadians but also individuals world-wide.”

“We have been greatly impressed with the nature and quality of the research being pursued within McGill’s laboratories and feel strongly that our macrocyclic compounds will be of significant assistance in advancing their studies,” stated Helmut Thomas, Ph.D., President & Chief Executive Officer of Cyclenium. “Coupling the cutting-edge efforts and the world class expertise of their investigators with our CMRT™ Technology and proven development success in the macrocycle arena offers an excellent opportunity for synergy in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents against important, but difficult, pharmacological targets.”

”We are excited about our collaboration with Cyclenium,” said Dr. Morag Park, Director of the Rosalind and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, “as it will continue to create new opportunities to accelerate the translation of basic research and our mechanistic understanding of cancer biology into potential therapies for cancer patients.”

“The partnership with Cyclenium will provide our researchers access to new chemical probes with which we can query the mechanics of life at the molecular level,” said Dr. Albert Berghuis, Chair of the Biochemistry Department, McGill University. “There is no doubt that the basic insights gained will lead to new avenues for therapy development for a host of diseases. This is therefore a win-win-win scenario for McGill, Cyclenium, and ultimately patients.”

“This collaborative venture is a prime example of harnessing the biomedical expertise of publicly funded university researchers with the technical prowess and resources of the biopharmaceutical industry to enhance drug discovery and disease treatment,” said Dr. John Orlowski, Chair of the Department of Physiology, McGill University. “Such relationships will ultimately benefit not only the healthcare of Canadians but also individuals world-wide.”

About Cyclenium Pharma Inc.
Cyclenium Pharma is an emerging, privately-held pharmaceutical research and development company exploiting its proprietary next generation CMRT™ (“smart”) macrocyclic drug discovery technology for the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutic agents to address areas of unsatisfied medical need. Cyclenium is creating value through progression of internal programs in oncology, infectious diseases and inflammation/pain. In addition Cyclenium is providing its extensive experience and exploring its CMRT-based QUEST screening library in risk-sharing partnerships with leading academic and research driven non-profit organizations as well as collaborations with innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies world-wide seeking to modulate unique and difficult disease targets in diverse therapeutic areas. For more information see: www.cyclenium.com.

About McGill University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional schools, 300 programs of study and some 39,000 students, including more than 9,300 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 8,200 international students making up 21 per cent of the student body. Almost half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 40 per cent whose first language is French or who speak it fluently. More information is available at www.mcgill.ca.

About the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre
The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC) is an internationally renowned research centre, committed to coordinating and conducting independent basic and early translational cancer research and training within a technologically advanced centre. Affiliated with McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and affiliated hospitals, the GCRC brings together the very best scientists, technicians, graduate students and research fellows. The GCRC encourages a multidisciplinary approach in its research activities and is intensifying the union of basic and clinical research, particularly in the support and training of its students and fellows. This union allows greater synchrony along the research pathway from the laboratory to clinical applications. Additional information is available at www.mcgillgcrc.com.

About McGill Life Science Complex HTS Facility
The McGill HTS (high throughput screening) facility was established in 2002 by Drs. J. Pelletier and D. Thomas at the Biochemistry Department. The scientific aim of the McGill HTS Facility is to facilitate the development of chemical biology programs in academic labs by supporting HTS assay development and high throughput screens of various natures. The facility employs a staff-assisted screening model. Investigators using the facility are provided with access to chemical or siRNA/shRNA libraries and training in the use of some instruments, such as liquid handling robotic equipment, plate readers and High Content Screening systems. Our goal is to offer unique services and give the opportunity to our customers to make a breakthrough in their field. We strive to establish an enduring relationship with our customers and collaborators in addressing their drug discovery needs pertaining to target identification and validation, assay development, high throughput screening, hit confirmation to facilitate hit to lead development. For more information on our services, please see: https://www.mcgill.ca/lifesciencescomplex/core/hts-hcs

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