Endo signs with CRO for development of small molecules

India-based CRO GVK Biosciences will develop small molecules for Endo.

Endo has entered into a deal with GVK Biosciences, an Indian contract research organisation (CRO), to develop small molecules targeting an unnamed protein.

The deal will see GVK providing Endo with a clinical candidate, which it will then develop and commercialise.
This is the first collaboration from GVK's Early Discovery Assets programme, which was established with the aim of allowing the company to develop a portfolio of discovery assets for potential early stage partnering deals, according to PM Live.

According to the CRO, the programme includes the development of assets to a stage where they can demonstrate value as treatments, before partnership opportunities are entered into to continue development.
Manni Kantipudi, chief executive of GVK Biosciences, said: "We are delighted to partner with Endo as it continues to build its discovery pipeline through external collaborations.

"This collaboration also confirms the value of our differentiated EDA concept, conceived to collaborate with pharmaceutical partners on discovery projects, from target to clinical candidates."