Amylin already has two peptides on the market for diabetes and several more in development for obesity. It will use this expertise in screening peptides to search Xenome's library of such molecules for potential drugs against what the firms describe as "a range of metabolic and musculoskeletal diseases", although they are remaining coy about which specific indications will be targeted.
The therapeutic power of venoms is known to drug developers but the molecules can be difficult to work with. Venoms from plants and animals are a sophisticated mix of hundreds of peptides. All of these interact with the body and some could potentially be used as drugs to treat a huge variety of diseases.
However, in the past it has been difficult for researchers to work with venoms - in the mix of molecules how could they know which one is exerting the positive effect? This is why companies such as Xenome, and a French rival, Latoxan, have developed libraries of peptides extracted from this particular natural source.
Xenome has generated a peptide database, containing over 8000 peptides from natural sources. From this collection Xenome has synthesised and characterized over 2500 individual peptides to generate a novel library for new drug discovery. This library complements additional peptide libraries at Xenome comprised of other novel peptide analogues.
Should Amylin find anything it thinks is interesting, the firm can then exclusively license lead candidates for further development and commercialisation in exchange for milestone payments and royalties payable to Xenome.
Not that Xenome is only using the library in collaboration deals. The firm has also developed novel leads for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions. Xenome's most advanced clinical product, Xen2174, is currently in a Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial for treatment of cancer pain. The company believes it will be able to start a Pahse IIb trial next year.
"This collaboration with Amylin is an important strategic move for Xenome as it provides us with funding, and the ability to leverage our peptide chemistry capabilities in a therapeutic area outside of Xenome's current focus," commented Xenome's CEO Lewis Lee.
There are many drugs both marketed and in development extracted or derived from toxins. The idea of using snake venom to treat heart disease may seem strange, yet that is exactly what Bristol-Myers Squibb did when they used the venom of a pit viper, Bothrops jararaca, to develop Capoten (captopril).
Other drugs tied to venoms include Schering-Ploughs Integrilin (eptifibatide), to treat acute coronary syndrome. That drug is a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa recptor inhibitor. However, it is not just heart disease exploiting venom. Other drugs from these sources are approved to treat cancer, stroke, Type II diabetes, pain relief and Alzheimer's, for example.
Elan Pharmaceuticals has also tasted success with venoms. It developed Prialt (ziconotide), a non-opioid pain killer that blocks N-type calcium channels. The drug is a synthetic version of a peptide found in cone snails (also called sea snails).
Perhaps the exact disease which the Xenome, Amylin collaboration will target will become more clear tomorrow, when the latter company holds it R&D day.
