HitGen and Pfizer have entered a multi-year research collaboration and licence agreement to build and screen novel DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) to help discover unique small-molecule leads for use in drug development.

Under this collaboration, HitGen and Pfizer scientists will leverage the former’s advanced technology platform and research capabilities in the design, synthesis, and screening of multiple proprietary DELs for Pfizer’s drug discovery efforts.

Furthermore, HitGen will screen their own DELs comprising of billions of compounds against a specific number of Pfizer’s therapeutic targets.

HitGen CEO and chairman of the board Dr.Jin Li said: "We are delighted to announce this major collaboration with Pfizer, one of the leading multi-national biopharmaceutical companies in the world.

"We will work closely with Pfizer scientists to build proprietary DELs to support the discovery of a generation of new medicines to address unmet medical needs.

"We look forward to identifying new opportunities that will further expand our ability to identify new leads for multiple target families."

"This collaboration reflects HitGen’s capabilities, expertise, and flexibility to develop business models to meet the needs of our collaboration partners.

The research at HitGen will be funded by Pfizer, which will have an exclusive licence over novel lead compounds from the HitGen DELs for further research and development.

Pfizer medicinal sciences senior vice-president and head Dr Tony Wood said: "We look forward to identifying new opportunities that will further expand our ability to identify new leads for multiple target families.

"The generation of proprietary DELs will leverage Pfizer’s parallel medicinal chemistry expertise and potentially accelerate the path of new medicines from idea to the clinic."

HitGen is headquartered in Chengdu, China, with laboratories in Houston, Texas, US.

The company is collaborating with multiple pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutes to identify and develop future therapeutics.