Venomtech

Venomtech targeted arrays provide a unique opportunity to identify novel screening tools and discover novel therapeutics. Animal venoms are a complex mix of peptides, small molecules and proteins that bind, activate, inhibit or otherwise modulate molecular targets such as ion channels, GPCRs and kinases. Screening crude venoms to identify bioactive components is made extremely difficult by a large number of potentially conflicting activities (e.g. cytotoxins masking pharmacology) and de-convolution challenges. In the past, these challenges have hampered many of the efforts to use venoms as drug discovery tools. Our goal at Venomtech Ltd is to enable venom-based drug discovery by providing targeted high-quality venom preparations in a ready-to-use format. Targeted-Venom Discovery Arrays (T-VDAs) Our current off-the-shelf T-VDAs target either GPCRs, kinases, ion channels or bacteria and are comprised of 2D HPLC fractions from 12 different species, in Echo qualified 384 and 1,536 plates. When combined with our hit-to-lead follow-up service, Venomtech T-VDAs provide a unique opportunity to identify novel screening tools and to discover novel therapeutics. We have a 200 species (20,000 fraction) library from which we can make custom arrays to the same standard, for any target. To date there are 15 venom-derived drugs marketed (several with peak sales >$0.5B) and approx. 14 new compounds in clinical trials. Our library has already delivered novel hits on challenging targets in important areas including oncology, anti-microbial and anti-parasite, ion channels and orphan GPCRs.