Allies expect government-funded collaboration to speed development of new drugs.

Telormedix and the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) have been awarded CHF 1.37 million (about $1.5 million) in funding from the Swiss government innovation agency’s CTI/KTI for a two-year collaboration to study the molecular interactions of Telormex’ toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists with their TLR7 target.  

Through the two-year program the partners aim to characterize and optimize target-specific interactions of TLR7 modulators and their activity in immune system cells. Computational modeling carried out at SUPSI will provide data on structure of the TLR7 receptor and its site-specific interactions with Telormedix compounds. The firm says this will enable it to predict the biochemical and biological properties of selected drug candidates, which will undergo further testing in molecular and cellular studies.

“We are delighted that CTI/KTI have recognized the potential of Telormedix’ TLR7-targeted molecules and look forward to working in collaboration with SUPSI,” comments Johanna Holldack, CEO. “The knowledge acquired during this research collaboration will accelerate and focus the drug optimization process leading to GLP IND-enabling studies, which will allow us to bring our drug candidates through subsequent clinical phases.”

Swiss firm Telormedix was founded in 2007 to develop targeted immune-modulating drugs for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. The firm’s lead candidate, TMX-101, is in Phase I/II development for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Two TLR7-targeted candidates, TMX-201 and TMX-202, are in preclinical development as vaccine adjuvants. 

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