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Axxam launches the ion channel-FLASH technology based on light mediated activation of voltage-gated ion channels April 29th, 2014 – Axxam SpA (Milan/Italy), a leading provider of discovery services has developed ion channelFLASH, an innovative approach for the “in vitro” study of voltage-gated ion channels. Axxam scientists have turned the idea of target activation by light impulse into a new technology platform, which allows assays for voltage-gated ion channels to be run without the need of artificial activation with KCl. In the ion channelFLASH platform, the activation of a voltage-gated ion channel is triggered by a light impulse. This light impulse activates channel rhodopsin, a light sensitive ion channel cloned from the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinardti, which triggers a membrane depolarization thereby  activating the voltage-gated ion channels. Ion channelFLASH based assays can be used on FLIPRTETRA and other similar instruments which use LED-based photon generating systems eliminating time consuming, low throughput and expensive patch-clamp based methods for ion channel discovery research. The ion channelFLASH platform, which comprises different channel rhodopsin receptors, will be used to provide clients with a turnkey approach for the generation of innovative cell-based assays as research and screening tools for the important target class of voltage-gated ion channels. The technology is based on a license agreement with Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH (München/Germany) for the use of biological photoreceptors to directly light-activate ion channels. Under the license, Axxam gains access to the channel rhodopsin technology discovered by Ernst Bamberg and Georg Nagel from the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics (MPI) and Peter Hegemann from the University of Regensburg, which is protected through several patent applications. The MPI is an Institute of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (“MPG”), Germany´s leading basic research organization. Open Pdf document

Axxam and Cellectis bioresearch announce their collaboration to offer a new generation of cell-based assays January 17th, 2014 – Axxam (Milan), a leading provider of discovery services including assay development for high throughput screening, and Cellectis bioresearch (Paris), the cell engineering expert, have started a collaboration to offer to the Life Science industry an extensive range of integrated discovery services based on genomic engineering technologies. Under the joint offering, clients will be provided with a one-stop-shop approach for the generation of cell-based assays through genomic engineering. Genes of interest will be modified using Cellectis bioresearch’s proprietary genome engineering technologies, after which functional cellular assays will be developed using Axxam’s expertise and technologies for cell line generation. Both the required gene modification and the resulting functionality change will be experimentally demonstrated. Finally, validated assays for screening and profiling experiments will be provided to the client. With the currently available genome engineering technologies virtually any gene, at any position, in any cell type can be addressed for a wide range of applications such as knock-in insertions, knock-out deletions, reporter cell line generations and others. Open PDF document

Hit Discovery Constance GmbH: a new European hub for HTS and compound management Constance (Germany), January 14th, 2014 – Today Hit Discovery Constance GmbH (“HDC”), a new joint venture organisation between Lead Discovery Center (Dortmund/Germany), Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3, KULeuven, Leuven/Belgium) and Axxam (Milan/Italy) has started its operation. The new company is based in Constance (Germany) and will make use of the already established equipment and know-how of the former Takeda/Nycomed/Altana screening and compound management facilities at the site. HDC is a service oriented company which provides high quality drug discovery research services to the Life Science industry and academic or research institutions. The offering includes assay development, High Throughput Screening (“HTS”) using radiometric formats, as well as conventional biochemical and cellular assay formats, automated High Content Screening (“HCS”) and Biosafety level 2 (BSL2) HTS. HDC’s labs are equipped with three state-of-the-art screening stations, a Screening Collection of 240.000 compounds and offer a REMP-based compound storage & handling facility which allows high quality storage and high throughput compound picking activities. Combined with Axxam`s already established HTS services and compound storage facilities, HDC represent one of the largest screening hubs worldwide. Open PDF document

Axxam: A new generation screening collection (AXXDIV2.0) is now available for drug discovery programs Bresso (Milan, Italy), September 23rd 2013 – Axxam S.p.A., a contract research and discovery company, announced today that an entirely new generation screening collection is now available for drug discovery programs: AXXDIV2.0 made up of around  240,000 carefully selected small molecules. The selection of the compounds was carried out building on Axxam’s broad screening expertise and significant input was given by the Company’s team of medicinal and computational chemists to ensure that the identified screening hits may represent promising and favorable starting points for further optimization. In order to meet the manifold needs of customers, the new screening collection AXXDIV2.0 includes three different subsets: Discovery Set (providing a scaffold based approach), Explorer Set (ensuring highest chemical diversity), and Probe Set (covering the fragment-like space). Enamine was chosen as the compounds supplier having one of the world’s largest, most diverse and novel screening collection. Through Axxam`s partnership with Enamine, building blocks for all the compounds can be provided to allow significant speed up of the hit expansion and optimization processes. Dr. Doris Hafenbradl, VP Discovery Services, Axxam, said: “Key for any successful hit discovery program is the quality of the compound library. That’s why we put a major effort into assembling this compound collection and applied the most stringent filters to favor lead-like properties. With this new collection we are addressing the needs of our clients to provide novel chemistry combined with a flexible model of generating custom subsets. The feedback from our customers has been extremely positive.” ABOUT AXXAM Axxam is a privately owned contract research and discovery company. The Company has developed a proven track record as a third party research and discovery services provider for the life science industry.  In addition, Axxam conducts several discovery programs for selected targets which are carried out in partnership with other companies or non-profit organizations. Dr. Doris Hafenbradl Vice President Discovery Services Axxam S.p.A. t:  +39 02 2105680 e: doris.hafenbradl.dh[at]axxam.com

Axxam announces the appointment of Dr. Doris Hafenbradl as Vice-President, Discovery Services Bresso (Milan, Italy), January 7th, 2013. Axxam SpA, a privately owned contract research and discovery company, announced today that Dr. Doris Hafenbradl has joined the company as Vice President Discovery Services. Doris brings to Axxam considerable industry experience that spans from target discovery to lead generation and preclinical candidate nomination. Doris joins Axxam from BioFocus where, as Senior Director Biology & Natural Products, she was responsible for the Basel’ site (Switzerland) and her activities contributed to a significant broadening of epigenetics drug discovery services. Under her guidance a number of novel technologies for HTS and Fragment Based Drug Discovery were integrated into hit finding strategies tailored to various drug discovery programs. During her previous positions at GPC Biotech/Axxima Pharmaceuticals and Proteros Biostructures, Doris has led various international research & development collaborations and drug discovery programs in oncology, infectious diseases and inflammation. Prior to this Doris spent more than six years in the US, working at Diversa Corp (now Verenium) and at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) in San Diego. Doris holds an MS and PhD in Microbiology from the University of Regensburg, Germany. Stefan Lohmer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Axxam, said: “Doris’ significant experience in the early drug discovery business will have an immediate impact on Axxam’s growing integrated lead discovery services. Doris will be responsible for increasing our HTS-based discovery service business that supports our clients through innovative technologies and dedicated experts. We are very pleased to welcome Doris to Axxam.”

Axxam SpA receives funding for the development of compounds for prevention and treatment of disability in Multiple Sclerosis Axxam SpA andFast Forward LLC, a not-for-profit organization established by the U.S. National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, entered into an agreement to fund Axxam SpA research in multiple sclerosis (MS). Under the terms of this agreement, Axxam will screen its extensive chemical library to develop small molecules that target the chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) expressed by activated microglia. This approach will provide the pharmacological tools for the validation of an innovative and attractive target belonging to the ion channel class, CLIC1, intended to modulate glial cell activity, which could form the basis for the development of new treatments for MS, as well as for other relevant neurodegenerative diseases. The award from Fast Forward and Merck Serono provides Axxam SpA with funding over a period of 12 months, and is distributed from the Accelerating Commercial Development Fund, which is allocated to for-profit entities and is designed to accelerate the development of research discoveries into new or improved therapies for people with multiple sclerosis. OpenPDF document

Axxam receives EUR 2.3 million grant from the Italian Ministry of Research to support innovative drug discovery programs Axxam SpA, a privately owned contract research and discovery company, announced that the Italian Ministry of Research has supported a research consortium, by awarding a EUR 12.6 million grant in order to conduct innovative drug discovery programs. This research consortium is composed by several companies and leading research institutions bringing together complementary skills and know-how for drug discovery. At Axxam, discovery research is an integral part of the business strategy as it ensures the future generation of pre-clinical candidates for its pipeline. Working closely with research institutions and other companies is an important part of this process as it helps Axxam to remain at the forefront of new research and drives the innovation required to develop in the future more effective medicines for patients. Axxam will receive EUR 2.3 million which represents an important first milestone to provide the company with a sustainable financing for the development of its proprietary pipeline. These funds will be used for supporting innovative discovery programs at the lead generation phase where an intense contribution of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology is required.

Axxam enhances its screening capacity with the acquisition of QPatch 16X Axxam, a leading contract research and discovery company for the life science industry, announces that it has further enhanced its screening capacity on  ion channels  with the acquisition of the QPatch 16X instrument, an automated patch-clamp device developed by Sophion (Denmark).  This device allows fully automated, highly reliable and stable measurement of both voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels through gigaseal quality recordings. “Increasing the already existing capacity to screen for compounds active on ion channels is a natural evolution for us” said Stefan Lohmer, CEO of Axxam. “Our company, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, has a rich history of successful collaborative research programs in the field of ion channels. The increasing requests of our existing customers and the wish to accommodate future collaborators’ needs, lead us to acquire the QPatch 16X“. Axxam is therefore now able to offer a comprehensive range of services that covers all the needs a partner would require, from the high throughput screening on the ion channel target of interest, to the inter-family selectivity. Also, cardiac liability tests are available to our clients, with particular attention to the in vitro hERG testing which is a critical step for both the clinical development and the approval by regulatory Agencies of a drug candidate (ICH guideline S7B). The QPatch 16X is now fully operating in Axxam’s new facilities in Bresso (Milan), with ongoing screening for already existing projects thanks also to the high-qualified technical assistance provided by Sophion as well as by the on-site collaboration and supervision of Dr. Jean-Francois Rolland, a recognized expert in automated patch-clamp.

Axxam Advances its High-Throughput Screening with Genedata Screener Axxam, a leading contract research and discovery company focused on collaborative research programs for the life science industry, announced today that it is advancing its high-throughput screening services with Genedata Screener. Axxam tailors its high-throughput screening to specific discovery processes and effectively address challenging targets and multi-client/project research on a single platform. Axxam analyzes data produced by screening cellular or biochemical assays, based on fluorescence or luminescence readouts, The system’s high-performance data analysis across the entire screening cascade, support Axxam early-stage therapeutic discoveries in different therapeutics areas. Genedata Screener functionality accelerates the hit-to-lead process, optimizing researchers’ time and Axxam resources. Open PDF document