C4X Discovery Holdings PLC (LONDON:C4XD) is developing its own pipeline of drug discovery programmes. The addiction programme’s lead candidate, a selective OX1 antagonist, is in formal preclinical studies. Two further programmes are expected to show pre-clinical proof of concept by the year end. The proprietary technology platform enables improved and accelerated drug discovery based on conformational design of solution structures. Collaborations with pharma and research companies on novel drug programmes provide both platform validation and steady, albeit modest, revenues (£0.6m in 2014).
Pipeline Packed With Potential
C4XD has identified multiple drug candidates, which it believes have potential to be ‘best-in-class’. Its pipeline is focused on addiction, diabetes and COPD. The addiction programme’s lead candidate, a selective OX1 receptor antagonist, should enter Phase I by end-2016. The other two programmes, targeting GPR142 for diabetes and NRF-2 for inflammation (applications in COPD and MS), are in earlier stages of development. C4XD will seek to partner after early clinical trials.