Arix links with LDC, Leeds Uni in metabolic projects deal

London, UK-based healthcare and life science group Arix Bioscience has signed an agreement with the Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), Max Planck Innovation GmbH (MPI), and the University of Leeds to develop new therapeutics for metabolic diseases based on the discoveries from these organisations.

Under the deal, Arix will fund and manage experimental work building on discoveries from the faculty of cardiovascular medicine and diabetes at the University of Leeds and LDC, focusing on the development of antagonists of a novel target for a variety of metabolic indications.

This is the first project stemming from a static agreement between Arix and LDC - which was established by Max Planck Innovation to capitalise on the potential of research from Max Planck Institutes - under which LDC shares its pipeline projects with the firm.

"This collaboration with LDC and the University of Leeds on metabolic projects is the first fruit of Arix’s partnership with the Lead Discovery Center and Max Planck Innovation GmbH, which demonstrates our ability to convert our high-quality relationships into tangible projects based on academic scientific excellence with long-term commercial potential," noted Arix’ chief executive Joe Anderson.

"We recently raised £100m in an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange from a range of high quality investors who are supportive of our strategy and enthusiastic about our pipeline. We believe the combination of capital and strategic guidance we can offer can have a transformative impact on early-stage scientific discovery."