Tranzyme Completes Drug Discovery Collaboration With Bristol-Myers Squibb

Tranzyme Pharma

today announced the successful completion of its chemistry-based drug discovery collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb

. As a result of the joint research efforts, Tranzyme has transferred compounds to Bristol-Myers Squibb for further development across multiple drug targets. As part of this agreement, Tranzyme retains the option to further pursue select collaboration targets for internal development. The goal of the strategic collaboration, established in December 2009, was to deploy Tranzyme's proprietary chemistry technology, Macrocyclic Template Chemistry (MATCH™), in the discovery of novel active macrocycles against a range of diverse biological targets that have historically been difficult to access with conventional small molecule chemistry. These macrocycles represent a distinct and underexplored compound class that displays favorable characteristics exhibited by large biomolecules, such as high potency and selectivity, while maintaining the benefits typically associated with small molecule drugs, such as high oral availability, good tissue and cell permeability and low cost of goods. Under the terms of the agreement, Tranzyme had primary responsibility for early lead compound discovery. Bristol-Myers Squibb has primary responsibility for optimizing the identified lead