Symbiochem™ Discovery Platform

SymbioChem™ is an integrated platform able to effectively target, screen and develop novel, diverse and biologically active compounds. This drug discovery platform is based on the natural, symbiotic relationship between certain microscopic species of worm(nematodes) and bacteria and on their ability to manipulate the insect host's immune system. The nematode invades an insect larva and, once inside the larva, releases symbiotic bacteria from its gut into the open blood circulatory system of the insect, therefore producing a wide variety of biologically active, small molecule metabolites.

Metabolites produced by other bacteria have been the focus of intensive research for many years for their ability to function as antibiotics. However, with the availability of new technology and knowledge, Welichem has demonstrated that in this model system, some metabolites serve as anti-inflammatory and/or anti-proliferative compounds as well as having antibiotic properties.

An exceptionally high percentage of the metabolites, obtained through the use of SymbioChem™, are novel chemical entities (NCEs) that exhibit therapeutically significant bioactivity and have low toxicity. This drug discovery system has already proven to be highly effective, yielding many bioactive small molecules in over 10 distinct chemical classes; and over 50% of these are NCEs. Given the diversity within this symbiotic relationship, Welichem believes it has a pipeline of potential drug leads. Therefore, with a growing need for high quality rational libraries of pharmaceutical drugs in the market, Welichem is well positioned to leverage this superior technology.

Welichem has purified and synthesized two major series of compounds based on metabolites and has established two disease-targeted R&D programs in the areas of:

• Autoimmune Diseases
• Cancer
  
  Competitive Advantages of the SymbioChem™ Discovery Platform
• Rational based: The molecular mechanisms regulating activation and suppression of the innate immune system are evolutionary conserved between insects and mammals;
• Validated technology: Large percentage of molecules derived using Symbiochem™ are bioactive and show anti- inflammatory, anti-cancer or anti-microbiocidal properties;
• Source of novel chemical identities: Majority of the molecules are NCEs;
• Integrated system: Drug discovery and disease class target are integrated into one system.
• High hit rate: These naturally occurring compounds are biologically active, target-specific and have low toxicity;