Forge Therapeutics and Active Motif said today they will partner on epigenetic research related to the family of iron-containing lysine demethylases known as Jumonji KDMs.

The research collaboration—whose value was not disclosed—is intended to combine Forge's expertise in metalloenzymes with Active Motif's expertise in epigenetics and related technologies.

The companies said their alliance will work to validate emerging epigenetic targets for oncology indications, as well as demonstrate the druggability of Jumonji KDMs.

Forge focuses on discovering drugs using a platform that targets metalloproteins, proteins that require metal ions for their biological function and make up more than one-third of the proteins in the human body.

“The Forge drug discovery engine has generated several full length inhibitors that are selective and potent for individual KDMs and subfamilies of KDMs,” Forge CEO Zachary A. Zimmerman, Ph.D., said in a statement. “Other epigenetic targets such as histone deacetylases and methyl transferases have been validated therapeutically. However, the Jumonji KDM family has been lagging behind due to a lack of suitable chemistry and limited biological tools available to early-stage companies.”

Active Motif specializes in developing and delivering tools to enable epigenetics and gene regulation research.

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