Milestone Represents Implementation of Structure-Based Drug Discovery Technology for High-Value GPCR Targets

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Receptos Inc. today announced the successful achievement of the technology transfer milestone under its license and technology transfer deal with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Ortho-McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), for Receptos' breakthrough GPCR crystal structure determination technology.

The relationship between Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Receptos, established in December 2010, enabled Janssen with the Receptos proprietary technology to enhance its rational drug design for GPCR therapeutic targets. The process of technology transfer to Janssen Pharmaceuticals was completed as anticipated within 12 months. Financial details of the milestone achievement were not disclosed.

"We are pleased with the successful technology transfer and are positioned to repeat this success with additional strategic partners who are interested in furthering their efforts in GPCR drug candidate discovery," said Faheem Hasnain, president and chief executive officer of Receptos. "These partnerships have provided Receptos with significant value in the form of non-dilutive capital, which we plan to use in the continued development of our pipeline of therapeutic candidates."

About the GPCR Class of Targets

GPCRs are a class of cell surface receptors conjugated with a G-protein, the signaling pathway of which is initiated by binding between the receptor and a hormone or bioactive molecule. GPCR targeted therapeutics comprise major drug classes in many disease areas, including CNS, metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal.

About GPCR Protein Crystal Structure Determination Technology

GPCR receptors are the largest single drug discovery protein family, yet many high-value targets have been intractable to traditional drug discovery techniques. Receptos offers a paradigm-shifting technology that enables, for the first time, structure-based drug design for this important target class. This unique offering delivers novel drug discovery tools along the path to structure determination, including the generation of purified GPCR protein (to allow biophysical ligand screening and therapeutic antibody candidate generation), the identification of novel receptor binding sites such as allosteric sites (to confer improved potency and selectivity profiles to drug candidates), and GPCR structure determination to transform drug discovery. Receptos' proprietary technology platform was exclusively licensed from The Scripps Research Institute and has been further advanced by the company into the disciplines of drug discovery and development.

About Receptos

Receptos is a biopharmaceutical company developing autoimmune therapeutic candidates through information-driven drug discovery, including GPCR structure determination. The company's lead program is a best-in-class S1P1 small molecule agonist candidate for autoimmune indications, including multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, which will complete a Phase 1 clinical study in the first quarter of 2012. The S1P1 program is supported by the company's proprietary high resolution protein crystal structure of the S1P1 receptor. Receptos has established partnerships for its GPCR structure determination technology platform with Eli Lilly, Ono Pharmaceutical and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more information visit www.receptos.com.

Media and Investor Contacts:
Russo Partners
Ian Stone or David Schull (media)
(619) 308-6541 or (212) 845-4271
Ian.stone@russopartnersllc.com
David.schull@russopartnersllc.com

Cindy McGee (investors)
(619) 308-6538
Cindy.mcgee@russopartnersllc.com

 

SOURCE Receptos Inc.

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