Icagen to Showcase its Integrated Drug Discovery Platform at BIO International

Icagen's acquisition of the Tucson Innovation Center in 2016 brought the company a team of chemistry, biology and computational scientists that had the unique collaborative benefit of having worked together for over 20 years.

"Companies can find everything they are looking for in an early drug discovery partner under one roof at Icagen – in addition to a different kind of scientist," said Dr. Wertman. "Our group not only has strong expertise in individual fields but also unique translational knowledge, having collaborated together for over two decades."

Drug discovery is an interactive process wherein the creation of strong therapeutic candidates requires interdisciplinary teams to act in tight communication and continuously adjust to conditions and findings.  At Icagen, drug discovery occurs in a web of biology, chemistry, structural biology and in silico modeling, embodied by deeply experienced scientists with a history of innovative execution.

"Physical separation, particularly across time zones, and certainly philosophical differences in terms of objectives and approach, inevitably compromise quality and speed in drug discovery," continued Wertman. "Experience among our chemists, biologists and computational scientists, their familiarity translating their knowledge together, and Icagen's transparency of engagement and communications with partners, provide the potential to offer solutions to the challenging programs."

BIO International is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), which represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other countries. The exhibition includes companies and delegations from 76 countries.

About Icagen, Inc.
Icagen partners with global pharmaceutical and biotech companies to generate high-quality, advanced leads. As a focused Target-to-Lead (T2L) company, Icagen works with collaborators in multi-year, integrated drug discovery programs. Born from a biotech background and matured by pharma companies, Icagen brings to partners a North American team with over 20 years of experience in early discovery. The process of drug discovery starts with druggable targets. Icagen scientists have vast experience in target-based drug discovery, including ion channels, kinases, GPCR's and transporters. The Icagen team works with collaborators to determine target feasibility using state-of-the-art computational chemistry methods. Once a target is selected, the team combines virtual screening, ultra-high throughput screening (uHTS), biology and medicinal chemistry to generate viable leads in an iterative process. For more information email [email protected]

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and include statements the potential to offer solutions to challenging programs.  The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the Company's forward-looking statements include, among others, our ability to successfully penetrate deliver drug discovery services and the continued growth of the market for our services and the other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and our other filings with the SEC. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information, contact:

Chris Mathes, Ph.D.
Chief Commercial Officer
Icagen, Inc.
Tel +1 (919) 941-5206
Email [email protected]

SOURCE Icagen, Inc.