CRELUX partners with Eyen to advance 3D cryo-electron microscopy into industrial drug discovery applications

3D cryo EM enables the structure determination of large protein complexes like antigen-antibody complexes, or membrane proteins.
It matches perfectly the technologies already established at CRELUX and can be easily integrated in our workflow. CRELUX expertise in protein production and proprietary expression and cell culture tools make proteins of highest quality available. Your target of choice can be produced at CRELUX and subsequently analyzed with cryo EM.

Typical workflow comprises

1.     Generation of high quality protein solution of the target of interest (performed by CRELUX or provided by the client): Make use of our Prime Protein service.

2.     Cryogenic sample preparation: Small amounts are prepared and flash-frozen to form an amorphous ice phase that preserves native, solution-like conditions.

3.     Electron microscope imaging: An advanced transmission electron microscope is used to take high resolution 2D images of the vitrified sample in a low-exposure mode.

4.     Computational 3D reconstruction: Iterative computational procedures are used to aggregate the 2D images into a 3D structure. Several protocols like electron tomography, single particle analysis, or sub-volume averaging are used.

5.     Analysis and interpretation: The 3D models are verified and analyzed. Technological advances are making atomic resolution of large proteins possible.

CRELUX receives 800 000 euros funding within the EU HORIZON 2020 programme to identify compounds from marine sources for age-related disease therapy

CRELUX GmbH will participate in a research project funded by the European Union to access marine bioactive compounds and subsequently identify and validate novel compounds for the treatment of age-related diseases. This project brings together researchers from 8 different countries, from France, Greece, Israel, Thailand, Ile de la Réunion, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. In the first project phase, marine invertebrates and their associated symbionts located in the under-investigated mesophotic zone (between 30 and 100 meters depth) will be cultivated and extracts prepared. CRELUX is involved in the discovery of novel metabolites with anti-ageing activity. The small molecule drug discovery specialist will use its INTRACT platform to analyze effects of extracts and pure substances on various molecular targets and will assess the use of extracts or compounds in pharmaceutical applications targeting age related diseases. Further compound validation will also include cell based and pharmacology assays.

CRELUX’s biophysical assay and screening platform INTRACT is comprised of innovative technologies including nanoDSF, microscale thermophoresis, NMR, AlphaScreen, SAW and mass spectrometry based technologies as well as enzymatic assays, FP, and TR-FRET.

BEYOND RESEARCH initiative of CRELUX and 4SC Discovery reaches first milestone in drug discovery project for Helmholtz Zentrum München

SCOPE and VISION of BEYOND RESEARCH

Beyond Research is an initiative of three Munich-based companies: CRELUX GmbH, 4SC Discovery GmbH – both experienced drug discovery partners - as well as Prefound GmbH, a leading business consultant for life-science start-ups.

Beyond Research strives to close the gap between academic research and pharmaceutical industry by translating basic biomedical research into commercial products that meet industry and market standards.

Insufficient maturation of discovery projects in academic and basic biomedical research is a main hurdle for further development by professional organizations. Even for highly innovative projects with excellent commercial prospects it is difficult to identify industry or venture capital partners for further development into commercial products and foundation of spin-offs. There is an increasing need and demand for pharma to identify early, innovative starting points for novel therapies, due to a significant drop of efficiency in pharma drug discovery over the last decade.

Beyond Research will be established as a local provider for the academic researchers in Bavaria, with the vision to translate academic research into commercial success and to trigger the foundation of new life science start-up ventures. In Bavaria there is no other translational institution offering evaluation, coaching and operative execution services from one source.

CONCEPT

The current operational focus of BR will be on small molecule discovery for innovative drugs, covering all preclinical research phases from Hit Generation to Lead Optimization and Candidate Selection.

The IP generated within projects will generally belong to the academic institution. The contribution of BR will be remunerated on a service basis with a milestone component when crucial product development steps are achieved.

Next to a skilled industrial drug discovery team and fully equipped laboratories (i2c, the operative drug discovery platform of CRELUX and 4SC Discovery), BR provides project management, technical and economical project evaluation, business concept evaluation as well as hands on financial and business support and a strong global network to potential product licensees.

CRELUX cooperates with Munich Children Hospital to discover novel Orphan Disease Therapies

CRELUX engages in developping novel medicines for orphan diseases using its drug dicovery capabilities. Orphan diseases are currently a major focus supported by a grant from the BFS. Working closely with the university hospitatal in Munich, CRELUX aims at identifying novel small molecule compounds for treating rare diseases like phenylketonuria (PKU). Especially children suffer from this disease and have to live on a strict diet.