Four UK CROs announce collaboration to work on potential COVID-19 therapeutics

Four Nottingham-based contract research organisations (CROs) report they have strengthened their existing links to work together and support the discovery and development of new therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charnwood Molecular, Reach Separations, Aurelia Bioscience and XenoGesis are all based at BioCity Nottingham, the UK’s largest bioscience, innovation and incubation centre.

The CROs say that they have joined forces to work together and ensure the discovery and development of new therapeutics during the pandemic remains supported by four highly experienced specialists.

Many businesses have been impacted by the restrictions on the movement of people and supplies, which has created barriers and slowed down drug discovery and development. The collaboration brings together specialist expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, analytical and purification support, bioassays, pharmacology screening, DMPK, bioanalysis, PK modelling and dose prediction.

Dr Richard Weaver, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of XenoGesis, said: “Clients can feel confident that they are still able to access the best specialised CRO in its respective discipline and also dip into the services that they need at different stages of their project. In the past few weeks, we have seen a marked increase in new work and projects with clients coming to us for our specialist DMPK expertise. There is a genuine appetite for access to niche CROs that are leaders in their field.”

Robin Wilkes, Director of Business Development at Charnwood Molecular, commented: “In these unprecedented times, the need for new therapeutics is higher than ever. Being co-located at BioCity Nottingham has huge advantages and enables us to navigate some of the barriers that are affecting other businesses, ensuring our clients’ projects can continue.”

According to the enterprises, their partnership also means clients can access niche CROs with specialist expertise, that are already experienced at working together, allowing drug discovery programmes to continue seamlessly with minimal disruption.

Victoria Coulthard, Head of Business Development at Reach Separations, added: “We already have a proven track record of working together to provide services for clients across the globe. By coming together and offering a collaborative approach, we are able to build on this and help clients expedite their drug discovery projects in spite of the lockdown.”

Gary Allenby, Chief Scientific Officer at Aurelia Bioscience, concluded: “In the current climate, the co-localisation of subject experts has come to the fore. Together at BioCity, Aurelia Bioscience, Charnwood Molecular, Reach Separations and XenoGesis have been able to provide seamless business continuity for drug discovery programmes, combatting the disruption that is being experienced elsewhere in the sector.”