BMS, Asterand Extend Discovery Pact

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Asterand have extended their collaboration providing BMS access to Asterand’s products and services for as long as three years. The agreement will focus on access to Asterand’s PhaseZERO drug discovery services and XpressBANK of human tissue and clinical samples for the continued validation of early drug targets and support for compound optimization. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“BMS’s decision is an important validation of Asterand’s products and services,” said Asterand chief executive officer, Martyn Coombs. “Our goal is to assist BMS and other pharmaceutical companies in making the drug development process more effective and we want to help them reach the clinic with less cost and more confidence. Access to Asterand’s human tissue-based approach through PhaseZERO Services and XpressBANK Samples can help assist in the early identification of possible adverse events in humans, and thus may help reduce the high attrition rates and costs associated with drug discovery and development.”

Under the extended collaboration, Asterand will continue to take on a range of PhaseZERO studies for BMS in the areas of compound profiling and target validation. PhaseZERO studies include gene and protein expression profiling and cell-based pharmacology assays. BMS will be granted access to Asterand’s XpressBANK of human tissue, bio-fluid, and cell lines and may also use Asterand’s ProCURE custom clinical sample collection service.