Singapore: Japanese firm Ono Pharmaceutical and BioFocus, a service division of Galapagos and based in the UK, have signed a new collaborative research agreement, focused on discovering novel compounds in the field of CNS disorders.

Under the agreement, BioFocus will receive research funding and success payment based on the progress of the collaboration. BioFocus will engage in discovering novel pre-clinical candidates by providing comprehensive discovery platform encompassing medicinal chemistry, ADME/PK and biological sciences.

Ono has worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the pharmaceutical products containing the compounds discovered through this collaboration. Dr Kazuhito Kawabata, member of the Board of Directors, executive officer and executive director, discovery and research, at Ono, commented: "We have the highest regard for the BioFocus' comprehensive drug discovery platform. This collaboration will strengthen Ono's drug discovery capability in the field of CNS disorders with significant unmet medical needs and we are expecting that innovative drugs will be created through this collaboration."

"We are delighted to have this new agreement, which is the first drug discovery program with this, a most valued, client." said Dr Chris Newton, SVP Galapagos Services and MD of BioFocus. "This project plays to BioFocus historic strengths and the expanding breadth and depth of this partnership is testament to a tried and trusted relationship."