Axxam, a science-driven biotechnology company focused on early-stage discovery research and services for the life science industry, and PerkinElmer, a global technology leader in Health Sciences and Photonics, have signed a global licensing agreement whereby PerkinElmer will become the exclusive provider of the Axxam Photina® photoprotein technology to the drug discovery market.
Axxam retains the rights to use the technology for its discovery services to third parties, as assay development, high-throughput screening (HTS) and compound profiling, as well as for any further application of development of this technology. This agreement does not affect current discovery service contracts.
The terms of the agreement also provide for a formal research and development program between Axxam and PerkinElmer to develop additional Photina® GPCR and ion channel cell lines for use in high throughput screening and compound profiling.
The Photina® technology is a luminescent cell-based assay platform optimized for screening important drug discovery targets, including G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels.

Axxam and InterMed Discovery announced a three-year collaboration to provide complete screening solutions for the identification of bioactive compounds from natural sources to the flavor and fragrance industries. Axxam will provide assays and carry out the screening. InterMed will provide the naturally-derived chemical matter, and screening samples, as well as deconvolution and scale-up of the identified compounds.
Together the discovery service providers offer integrated solutions for the discovery and scale-up of bioactive product candidates derived from natural sources, such as plants, fungi and microorganisms. The complementary tools and know-how of both companies will simplify the discovery process for clients from the food, beverages, flavor and fragrance industries.

Axxam announced that the discovery research and services company has entered into two drug research collaboration agreements with Boehringer Ingelheim. The first collaboration agreement aims to identify and validate therapeutic targets with subsequent assay development, high-throughput screening (HTS) and lead optimization through the joint efforts of Axxam and Boehringer Ingelheim researchers. The second agreement covers the transfer of protein material and a corresponding specific functional assay for high-throughput screening (HTS) to Boehringer Ingelheim. Axxam will receive fees as the collaboration progresses and milestone payments for successful exploitation of results through development stages. Further financial details of the agreements are not disclosed.