24^th July 2023 – CrystalsFirst GmbH, a leading provider of innovative crystallography solutions, and NexMR GmbH, a technology company specializing in high-performance Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), are thrilled to announce their strategic collaboration. This partnership aims to redefine the field of fragment-based drug discovery by combining CrystalsFirst’s expertise in crystallography and NexMR’s cutting-edge NMR, ultimately providing better solutions for drug discovery.

Fragment-based drug discovery is a powerful approach that enables the identification of high-quality lead compounds with improved drug-like properties. By utilizing small fragments of molecules, researchers can explore a vast chemical space and optimize the fragments to develop highly potent and selective drugs. However, the success of fragment-based drug discovery heavily relies on efficient fragment screening and accurate structural determination of the protein-fragment complexes.

CrystalsFirst has established itself as a pioneer in crystallography, offering leading technologies and services for protein crystallization and structure determination using its proprietary SmartSoak® technology. Their expertise in obtaining high-quality chemical matter has contributed to numerous breakthroughs in drug discovery projects. By partnering with NexMR, a company known for its innovative solutions in fragment screening, the collaboration will combine their respective strengths to tackle the challenges associated with fragment-based drug discovery.

NexMR’s advanced technologies enable rapid and efficient fragment screening, utilizing advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Their unique platform allows for the identification and characterization of fragment hits, facilitating the selection of the most promising candidates for further development. By integrating NexMR’s fragment screening capabilities with CrystalsFirst’s expertise in protein crystallography, researchers will have access to a comprehensive suite of tools and services for fragment-based drug discovery campaigns.

“We are excited to partner with NexMR to enhance our capabilities in hit identification,” said Dr. Serghei Glinca, CEO of CrystalsFirst. “This collaboration allows us to provide our clients with a more holistic approach, combining cutting-edge fragment screening technologies with our world-class protein crystallography expertise. Together, we aim to accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutics.”

“We are delighted to join forces with CrystalsFirst,” added Dr. Félix Torres Hubiche, CEO of NexMR. “By integrating our fragment screening technologies with CrystalsFirst’s exceptional crystallography capabilities, we aim to deliver a streamlined and comprehensive solution for fragment-based drug discovery. This collaboration holds great promise in unlocking new chemical matter for the development of life-changing medicines.”

CrystalsFirst and NexMR are committed to driving innovation and advancing the field of fragment-based drug discovery. Through their collaboration, they aim to empower biopharmaceutical research worldwide with cutting-edge tools, expertise, and services that will accelerate the development of novel therapeutics for a wide range of diseases.