Sygnature Discovery has established a formal collaboration with X-Chem to support the delivery of DEL screening within its integrated drug discovery programs.
DEL screening has long formed part of Sygnature's broader hit-finding strategy. This collaboration formalizes access to X-Chem’s DEL platform and its expertise in selection science and data analysis, complementing Sygnature’s established suite of hit-finding technologies and capabilities in protein science, biology, medicinal chemistry and integrated drug discovery. It gives project teams greater flexibility to select the hit-finding approach best suited to each target and program.
For more than 15 years, X-Chem has set the standard in DEL through intentional library design, advanced selection science and data-driven analysis. Eight clinical candidates discovered through X-Chem DEL programs demonstrate the platform’s ability to deliver chemistry that advances from hit identification to clinical development.
Through this collaboration, DEL screening can be integrated into Sygnature-led projects, supporting programs from target protein production through screening, hit validation and optimization, with X-Chem providing its DEL platform, screening expertise, and data analysis. Customers will benefit from one integrated program, reducing the need to manage multiple providers and making it simpler to access the best solution for their needs.
DEL screening is particularly useful for certain target classes and situations where access to large and diverse compound collections may be advantageous. DEL screening allows billions of DNA-tagged small molecules to be evaluated simultaneously against a biological target.
Compounds retained during selection are detected by sequencing their DNA tags, generating rich datasets that reveal patterns of enrichment across related chemical structures. Combined with thoughtful library design, rigorous selection science and expert data analysis, these patterns can identify promising chemical starting points and help guide what happens next.
Rick Davies, Director of Protein Sciences and Structural Biology at Sygnature Discovery, believes that the partnership offers customers more choice, particularly when working on difficult targets. Drawing on his background in DEL screening, he said: “We are continually looking to tailor our hit-finding strategies to the specific needs of each target and ensure our customers can access the most appropriate technologies for their programs.
“I have seen firsthand the difference DEL screening can make when the fit is right for a project.
“DEL screening has been an important option within our hit-finding strategy for many years, and as a pioneer in the field, X-Chem brings deep specialist expertise. Formalizing our relationship with them allows us to provide an even more streamlined and integrated experience for customers."
Matt Clark, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at X-Chem, commented: “From the beginning, our focus at X-Chem has been on making DEL data useful in drug discovery. When an experiment is designed around the biology of the target, the data can reveal which chemistry has a real path forward and guide what happens next. Through this collaboration, those insights can directly inform the validation and chemistry work within Sygnature-led programs, helping teams move promising molecules forward faster.” Rick Davies added: “Ultimately, what we always look to do is make our customers’ lives easier; especially when working with cutting-edge technology and at high speed. “For more than two decades, we've built hit-finding strategies around the needs of each program, drawing on a broad portfolio of technologies and specialist expertise. This collaboration with X-Chem represents a natural extension of that approach."