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CEO's Letter - Drug Discovery |
THE ACTELION ANNUAL REPORT 2004 |
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| Drug Discovery focuses on innovation for patient benefit |
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In June 2004, the breakthrough qualities of Tracleer® and its discovery team – the Actelion founders – were honored with the French Prix Galien, one of the most prestigious awards in the pharmaceutical industry. This shows the level of scientific innovation that characterizes our daily work. Actelion’s researchers have synthesized more than 30,000 compounds and filed over 70 priority patent applications, an impressive number for a company of our size.
Our strategic focus in Drug Discovery is clear. We concentrate on one type of drug (low-molecular weight compounds that are orally available), two molecular platforms (G-protein coupled receptors and aspartyl proteases) and multiple therapeutic areas (e.g. cardiovascular, oncology/immunology, central nervous system).
Highlights of our Drug Discovery pipeline include groundbreaking work on orexin, peptides produced by neurons that are implicated in the regulation of wakefulness and feeding behavior. Synthetic substances that block the G-protein-coupled orexin receptors in the brain hold promise as novel sleep and appetite regulators. One particular orexin antagonist has been selected for preclinical development based on its overall favorable profile. In 2005, Actelion will initiate a clinical program evaluating an orexin receptor antagonist in sleep disorders (insomnia).
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BACE 1 (Beta-site APP-Cleaving Enzyme 1), a membrane-bound aspartyl proteinase produced by neurons and other cells, is a key enzyme responsible for generating amyloid-beta peptides, thought to play a major role in Alzheimer’s disease. Actelion’s Drug Discovery efforts are focused on finding BACE 1 inhibitors as a possible breakthrough therapy for Alzheimer’s, which affects some 16 million people worldwide.
Other Drug Discovery projects include urotensin-II receptor antagonist follow-up compounds (complementing the ongoing clinical trial on palosuran), renin inhibitors (see following section) and a number of other promising compounds such as novel antibiotics that cannot be revealed for competitive reasons.
Actelion’s ongoing construction of a new R&D facility in Allschwil underscores our commitment to innovative research targeted at addressing unmet medical need. This state-of-the-art facility, which is to be completed by 2006, will house all our scientists under one roof and facilitate sharing of knowledge and the latest advances in technology.
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