Astex, a UK drug discovery company, has set up a multi-target drug discovery agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), a German pharmaceutical firm.

Astex, a UK drug discovery company, has set up a multi-target drug discovery agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), a German pharmaceutical firm.

Astex will apply its so-called Pyramid technology, which uses protein crystal structures to detect the binding of drug fragments, to generate compounds against targets selected by BI. The German firm will then be responsible for clinical development. BI will make pre-commercial payments of $45m ( ca ?25m) per target and will provide milestone payments and royalties based on the sale of any approved products. The firms have not disclosed the therapeutic areas covered by the agreement.

Emma Davies