The ion channel contract research organization (CRO) and drug discovery company, Metrion Biosciences, has formed a strategic alliance with the UK-based CRO Concept Life Sciences.
The agreement combines Metrion’s ion channel assay development, validation, and compound screening capabilities, with Concept’s medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, in-vitro ADME assays and investigational toxicology services.
“Carefully selected strategic alliances allow us to maintain our focus on quality, avoid unnecessary expenditure and broaden our capabilities to enter new areas of business,” Andy Southan, Head of Commercial Operations at Metrion told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
Through the company’s recent alliances with Concept Life Sciences and Assay.Works, Southan said Metrion is able to combine the individual strengths of each company and offer clients a fully integrated ion channel drug discovery service without the need for significant capital expenditure or investment in specialized personnel by Metrion or its partner companies.
“We are therefore avoiding additional costs that would otherwise need to be passed to the client and also unnecessary delay whilst training new staff,” he explained.
“Both of our recent partner companies (Concept Life Sciences and Assay.Works) have personnel with a great deal of experience managing multi-site, long term drug discovery research program.”
Southan said the goal is to provide “a high quality, highly specialized, low cost base, integrated drug discovery service to clients,” which will enable the company to win and maintain multi-FTE, long term drug discovery contracts spanning initial screening to nomination of a development candidate.
The terms and length of the alliance remain confidential; however, Southan told us there is provision to continue support for executed customer contracts in the unlikely event the alliance is terminated due to unforeseen circumstances.
Southan further explained the next steps are to promote the alliance, secure new business in the integrated drug discovery space and, where the company feels it is advantageous, add further capability via new strategic alliances.