Vipergen Establishes Research Partnership with Bayer to Discover Novel Compoundsfor Pharmaceuticals and More Sustainable Crop Protection Solutions

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vipergen, a leading provider of small-molecule drug discovery services based on DNA-encoded library (DEL) technologies, announced today the signing of a multi-target research agreement with Bayer to discover novel small-molecule lead compounds for development of pharmaceuticals and more sustainable crop protection solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, Vipergen will apply its new in-living-cell DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening platform to discover novel small-molecule compounds that bind to selected Bayer protein targets. Bayer will select potential drug and crop protection development candidates based on the hits generated by Vipergen's technology. Bayer will retain exclusive rights to globally commercialize all products resulting from the collaboration. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.

Vipergen's Cellular Binder Trap Enrichment® (cBTE) technology is the first and only platform for screening DNA-encoded small-molecule libraries inside living cells. The technology is designed to accelerate and improve the success rate for discovering novel, high-quality small molecules against protein targets of interest, including challenging targets that are difficult to express and purify in an active form.

"We are looking forward to the partnership with Vipergen and to building on its new technology for screening DNA-encoded libraries under physiologically relevant conditions of living cells for the development of new products in health and agriculture," said Monika Lessl, SVP and Head of Corporate R&D and Social Innovation at Bayer.

"We are very pleased to partner with Bayer, a life sciences leader in human health and agriculture," said Nils Hansen, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Vipergen. "We look forward to applying our Cellular Binder Trap Enrichment® technology to screen DNA-encoded libraries in living cells to support the development of new drugs and sustainable crop-protection solutions."

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

About Vipergen ApS
Vipergen is a world-leading provider of small-molecule drug discovery services based on DNA-encoded library (DEL) technologies and is the first and only company capable of screening DELs inside a living cell. Vipergen provides its proprietary suite of leading-edge DEL technologies through funded discovery partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including top pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., EU, and Japan. For more details about Vipergen and the YoctoReactor® (yR), Binder Trap Enrichment® (BTE), and Cellular Binder Trap Enrichment® (cBTE) drug discovery technology platforms, please visit www.vipergen.com.

Contact:
Mary Moynihan
M2Friend Biocommunications
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SOURCE Vipergen