Crystax and Almirall sign a research agreement to study the structure of a pharmaceutical target
1st March, 2004
The biotech company Crystax Pharmaceuticals, located in the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB, Barcelona Science Park), has drawn up a research contract with Almirall Prodesfarma, the leading Spanish pharmaceutical enterprise, to resolve the 3D structure of a pharmaceutical target through the use of synchrotron light. The protein in question is a therapeutic target for drugs currently under development by Almirall, such as anti-inflammatories. Determination of the atomic structure of the protein in 3D will facilitate the development of drugs since their design and optimisation will be carried out in a rational manner.
Crystallography of biological molecules will be used to resolve the 3D structure. This technique is based on producing small crystals of the pharmaceutical target. Once the crystals have been obtained, the new drugs are diffused in them, thereby allowing experimental visualization of how they bind to their biological target, which facilitates redesign.
Crystax is a pioneer in Spain in the use of x-ray diffraction technology applied to drug discovery. This technique, which uses x-rays produced by a synchrotron light source, allows the visualization of molecules with greater resolution. At present there is no synchrotron light facility in Spain and this technique will be applied in other European countries. However, in this regard, in the near future a synchrotron light facility is planned for the Parc Tecnologic del Vallès (Vallès Technology Park) and the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona). The particle accelerator is scheduled to become operational in 2008 and will make Spain one of the four European countries with a state-of-the-art synchrotron light facility.
Almirall focuses its research on fields related to the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, allergies, atopic dermatitis and gastrointestinal alterations. In the next five years, it is estimated that Almirall will invest 490 million € in R+D. Almirall currently employs 3,200 people, and has a research staff of 532. Moreover, it has five research centres and six production plants, in addition to branches in the main cities of Spain and subsidiaries in Europe and Latin America.
