GALAPAGOS ENTERS INTO COLLABORATION WITH ASTRAZENECA

Belgian drugmaker Galapagos has announced that its service division, BioFocus DPI, has entered a new drug discovery collaboration with AstraZeneca. Under the terms of the agreement, BioFocus will perform hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry services for AstraZeneca's respiratory and inflammatory drug discovery programs. Total contract value for Galapagos is 650,000 euros.

"We chose to work with BioFocus DPI because of their reputation and ability in modern lead-generation methodologies," said Dr. Lars-Erik Arvidsson, vice president R&D Lund, AstraZeneca.

"Our world-class medicinal chemistry expertise within BioFocus DPI will be of great use in this new collaboration and establish the basis for a potentially long-term relationship," said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos.