X-Chem, Bayer expand drug discovery deal

X-Chem Inc. (Waltham, Mass.) and Bayer AG (Xetra:BAYN) expanded their drug discovery collaboration to include multiple undisclosed therapeutic areas and target classes. The companies began collaborating in 2012, but said the new arrangement "will significantly expand the scope and duration of the partnership."

X-Chem has developed a screening platform and its DEX library of DNA-encoded small molecules that enable the identification of high-quality lead candidates against difficult targets (see BioCentury, Feb. 24, 2014). ...