Promega and Multispan to pool efforts for drug screening

Madison, Wis. - Promega Corp., a provider of life science solutions, has formed an agreement with San Francisco-based Multispan Inc. to co-develop tools for the drug-related screening of protein receptors.

The agreement will team Promega's line of bioluminescent technologies with Multispan's line of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to increase the efficiency of testing for drugs that work on the receptors.

GPCRs, which transmit chemical signals into multiple types of cells, are involved in processes like the regulation of mood, the nervous system, and the immune system. They are among the most widely targeted receptors by pharmaceutical companies.

Promega's bioluminescent technologies typically are used to study drug targets such as protein and nuclear hormone receptors. The technology also profiles small molecule compounds and assesses the viability and toxicity of various drugs on those targets.

John Watson, marketing director of pharma/biotech at Promega, said in a release that the agreement will provide solutions for scientists researching new drugs, reducing the assay development time on these drugs from months to days. Related stories

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