The two companies have signed a research collaboration agreement for the development and implementation of improved methodology for early screening of potential new drug molecules.

The research project will be aimed at an undisclosed drug target protein and will be utilizing the proprietary Label-Enhanced SPR biosensor technology of Episentec. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will supply target protein and small molecules for screening, while Episentec will develop and implement new SPR-based screening methodologies.

According to Episentec, the aim of the project is to develop cost-efficient screening methods with higher sensitivity, higher specificity, and higher throughput than what is possible using today’s state-of-the-art technologies.

“We are very happy to get this opportunity to cooperate with AstraZeneca. We really believe that our Label-Enhanced SPR technology has the potential to take today’s SPR-based screening methods to a new level of performance,” said Anders Hanning, CEO of Episentec.

“Entering this collaboration with Episentec will bring us in a position to significantly expand the current application areas of SPR-based drug screening. Having found an experienced partner in that area makes us feel confident in achieving the goals of this collaboration, for the benefit of enabling unprecedented screening approaches as well as unlocking difficult target classes in the near future,” added Stefan Geschwindner, Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca.