Schrödinger and Sanofi Collaborate

Schrödinger, Inc. has entered into a collaboration with Sanofi, in which Schrödinger will provide comprehensive computational drug design support, from target analysis and validation to lead identification and lead optimization, for as many as ten drug discovery programs. Schrödinger could receive up to $120 million under the terms of the broad, multi-year relationship that includes preclinical milestones.

Although computer aided design (CAD) plays a truly enabling role in nearly all industries ranging from airplane design to movie making, CAD is not widely recognized as a truly enabling technology in the field of drug discovery. Schrödinger has made a number of key scientific breakthroughs in recent years in the areas of protein and ligand structure determination and potency prediction that promise to have a transformative impact on the discovery of drugs. The collaboration with Sanofi aims to deploy this and related technologies at a level that is unprecedented in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, a new enterprise informatics system to facilitate real-time collaboration between computational designers and medicinal chemists will serve as the communications and project management platform for researchers across both companies.

“Collaborating with Schrödinger is an effective way for Sanofi to gain access to first rate computational design resources,” said Elias Zerhouni, President, Global R&D at Sanofi. “In the interest of perpetual innovation, we are constantly looking at cutting-edge technologies to advance our research.”

“Our mission is to transform drug discovery through computational technology, and we will continue to commit the resources necessary to develop compelling scientific solutions,” said Ramy Farid, Schrödinger’s President. Dr. Farid adds, “We are excited to expand our long term collaboration with Sanofi – we welcome the challenge and are excited to contribute to new therapies that combat a wide range of human diseases.”