Medical Research Council Technology Announces Substantial Funding For Research Into Drug Targets, UK

Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT) - the body that commercialises some of the finest biomedical research in the
world - today announced that it will co-fund work to develop new drug discovery techniques at the Medical Research Council's
Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). MRCT will support the initiative from its Development Gap Fund, with additional
funding provided by Pfizer, the world's largest private biomedical research organisation.



The award will help the LMB develop techniques to elucidate the three dimensional structure of human G protein coupled
receptors (GPCRs) - disease targets that have been key to research advances in the search for medicines to treat several
conditions where there remains high medical need.



GPCRs are integral components of cell membranes and it is through these receptors that cells receive and respond to essential
signals, including those from many drugs. GPCRs have been shown to be ideal targets for novel drug design. Many of the
most-widely prescribed drugs in the world act on GPCRs, mitigating conditions as diverse as cancer, allergies, heart disease,
migraine and stomach ulcers.



MRCT Chief Executive Officer Roberto Solario said:

"We are delighted that Pfizer has matched our funding for the MRC's Laboratory Molecular Biology's initiative. The science
involved in this project is cutting-edge, and our hope is that it might lead to the elucidation of GPCR structures and
thereby aid the identification of medicines to treat a broad range of diseases."



For more information call the MRC press office on 0207 637 6011




Notes to editors




MRCT


MRC Technology (MRCT) is the technology transfer company of the Medical Research Council responsible for turning MRC
scientific discoveries and inventions into technologies and products with healthcare benefits. The MRCT Development Gap Fund
is a Ј4.5 million commercialisation programme, invested over three years, which is available to MRC scientists to help
early-stage ideas and inventions progress towards use by patients and commercial success.



GPCRs


Understanding the three-dimensional structure of the drug target or GPCR can help in the development of new drugs. In spite
of much work, the structure of only one GPCR has been solved to date; the photoreceptor in the eye (bovine rhodopsin). The
structure of this molecule is very stable and it is, therefore, more robust. The aim of LMB's research is to develop generic
techniques to make any GPCR as stable as rhodopsin.


MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL