RESTON, Va., Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:
LDOS), a FORTUNE 500® science and technology company, has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Biosortia Pharmaceuticals to
explore creating a new business relationship with a focus on
identifying and advancing immuno-oncology and other
immunotherapeutic opportunities.
Both companies offer existing and future assets in the
immunotherapeutic space that will enable them to deliver de-risked
assets to a future pharmaceutical partner for development. The
companies' assets include compounds derived from microbiome
sources, screening assays, and scientific expertise that will focus
on moving assets to investigational new drug clinical research for
development by the partner. Technologies involved include
Biosortia's proprietary microbiome harvesting and mining
capabilities and Leidos' big data analytics. Leidos has
advanced various immune checkpoint inhibitor peptides that provide
unique differentiation from the current therapeutic monoclonal
antibodies. When coupled with Leidos' data analytics technologies
and capabilities and Biosortia's harvesting and mining
technologies, these assets represent a unique opportunity to
accelerate the process of identifying and maturing a new class of
immunotherapies.
"The high cost of de-risked assets due to the dismal success
rates of combinatorial chemistry and the ever-emerging complexities
of genomics has encouraged us to pursue a unique and validated
approach," said Ross Youngs, Chief
Executive Officer of San
Diego-based of Biosortia Pharmaceuticals "We have created
technologies to deeply explore various microbiome habitats for new
cell to cell signaling, which is more closely related to previously
successful drug discovery approaches via culturing, that have
delivered directly, indirectly or inspirational more than 50% of
drugs on the shelf."
"Combining deep analytics and genomics with novel chemistry from
the microbiome provides a platform to uncover and create the next
generation of immunological drugs," added Matt Vaughan, Senior Vice President of Health
Products and Solutions in the Leidos Health Group.
About Biosortia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biosortia was
founded in 2012 and is a private, closely held Delaware C-Corp
based in San Diego with a focus on
immuno-oncology, and immunological therapeutics discovered by a
unique access to previously unobtainable natural chemistry in the
various microbiome with a focus on delivering new opportunities
into drug development. Deep access to previously unobtainable drug
like natural chemistry from the microbiome for the cell to cell
signaling is key to many opportunities to cure or treat
disease.
www.biosortia.com
About Leidos
Leidos is a FORTUNE 500® science and
technology solutions and services leader working to solve the
world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland
security, civil and health markets. The company's 32,000 employees
support vital missions for government and commercial customers.
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia,
Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $7.04 billion for the fiscal year ended
December 30, 2016. For more
information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Statements in this announcement, other than historical data
and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual
results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very
different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these
factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth
in the company's Annual Report on Form 10Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2017 and other such filings that Leidos
makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and
risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
hereof.
Contacts:
Jennifer Moffett,
Jennifer.a.moffett@leidos.com
Chad Hummell,
chummell@biosortia.com
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SOURCE Leidos