Drug developer e-Therapeutics plc (LON:ETX) has unveiled the results of its strategic review under new chief executive Ray Barlow.
Following the review, the company has decided to invest in its network-driven drug discovery (NDD) platform in creating new drugs, while continuing to control costs.
READ: Drug developer e-Therapeutics streamlines its operation
The NDD has been used to identify small molecule hits in 12 discovery programmes in a number of areas of biology, including oncology, immunology and neurodegeneration.
The group will also focus on its two immuno-oncology programmes in checkpoint signalling modulation and tryptophan breakdown. Checkpoint signalling modulation can increase the anti-tumour activity of immune cells, while tryptophan breakdown is aimed at preventing the suppression of T-cell responses in cancers.
In an effort to keep a lid on costs, the company has reduced the number of self-funded discovery programmes from six to two. It has sought funding for its other programmes.
The company plans to take out its Hedgehoge tumour treatment and anti-influenza programme to the industry as potential out-license opportunities.
Barlow, who has been chief executive for the past three months, said: “Based on a detailed, systematic review of the business and its technologies, we are firmly of the view that we have created a unique and sophisticated computer-based drug discovery platform which is significantly more rapid and productive than other approaches available to the industry.”
He added: "Our network-driven view of biology and disease is gaining more and more attention in literature and the industry. Furthermore, results we have generated show that our approach has the potential to discover new and better drugs with potentially novel mechanisms of action.”