X-Chem, Navitor Pharmaceuticals Form Pact

X-Chem Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on applying its drug discovery platform to the generation of novel small molecule therapeutics announced that Navitor Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines by targeting cellular nutrient signaling, exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license to a series of small molecules targeting the activation of mTORC1, a key protein complex that orchestrates nutrient-mediated cellular metabolism and growth. The compounds licensed by Navitor were discovered by X-Chem screening their proprietary DEX platform against protein targets supplied by Navitor under a drug discovery agreement established by the parties in 2014. X-Chem received research funding from Navitor upon initiation of the agreement and a license fee upon exercise of the license. X-Chem is also eligible for additional consideration upon achievement of further milestones. Financial details were not disclosed.
 
“X-Chem has impressed us by succeeding in rapidly discovering novel and selective modulators for an unprecedented and challenging cellular pathway being studied at Navitor,” said George P. Vlasuk, president and chief executive officer of Navitor. “We are excited to bring these promising compounds in-house and pursue their preclinical development in parallel with our other proprietary drug discovery programs selectively targeting the mTORC1 nutrient signaling pathway.”
 
“X-Chem partners with emerging biotechnology companies to enable innovative therapeutics in promising new areas of biological research,” said Rick Wagner, president and chief executive officer of X-Chem. “By combining Navitor’s unique biological expertise in cellular nutrient signaling with X-Chem’s powerful DEX platform we are helping rapidly translate Navitor’s breakthrough biological insights into innovative therapeutics.”

“Over the past several years X-Chem has discovered and licensed multiple small molecule drug discovery programs to leading pharmaceutical companies under on-going partnerships,” said Diala Ezzeddine, executive vice president and chief business officer of X-Chem. “The collaboration with Navitor represents a new type of partnership adapted to the specific business needs of early-stage biotechnology companies.”