TCG Lifesciences to collaborate with Forest Laboratories in resear

New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) TCG Lifesciences has announced a strategic collaboration with the US-based Forest Laboratories Holdings, Ltd, to discover small molecule drug candidates for inflammatory diseases.

Working closely with Forest scientists, Chembiotek, the chemistry and biology arm of TCG Lifesciences will carry out discovery research to identify and optimise lead molecules, a release said here today.

The programme will focus on an integrated approach involving chemistry, biology, ADME and animal pharmacology capabilities of Chembiotek. Forest will have full ownership of the compounds developed under the collaboration with unencumbered worldwide rights, and will fund all subsequent drug development and commercialisation activities. Forest will pay Chembiotek undisclosed discovery milestones.

Commenting on the collaboration with Chembiotek, Dr Ivan Gergel, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Forest Laboratories Inc. and President of the Forest Research Institute said, "We are pleased to commence this discovery research collaboration with Chembiotek. This collaboration is part of our continued commitment to fill our early stage pipeline through discovery partnerships. We believe that, Chembiotek has the commitment throughout its organization and the quality of personnel necessary for the success of this programme." According to Mr Swapan Bhattacharya, Managing Director, TCG Lifesciences, "This partnership with Forest is a culmination of the skills, capabilities and scale of operations we have developed over the past few years at TCG Lifesciences and more specifically at Chembiotek. In addition to our strong chemistry capabilities, we have developed the best biology and computational skills among CROs in India. Our talented and dedicated team of scientists has made this possible. This transaction represents the fourth integrated discovery project we have signed this year. " TCG Lifesciences is a leading life sciences research and informatics services organization that enables translational medicine approaches to discovery and development of superior drugs and biologics. TCG Lifesciences offers a new paradigm where focused research and development is seamlessly transitioned from bench to bedside, with laboratory data easily accessed and managed for critical decision making from one enterprise solution across the product development lifecycle.

Chembiotek is one of the leaders in biology, chemistry, and pre-clinical research services ClinInvent is uniquely positioned for genomics, proteomics and biomarker research in India, and is already one of the leaders in bio-banking and clinical development services.

UNI