2022 Galapagos Award for Drug Discovery Chemistry
The SCT is proud to announce that the first Galapagos Award for Drug Discovery Chemistry has been attributed to the interdisciplinary project from BioVersys (Olivier Defert, candidate team representative), Université de Lille (Nicolas Willand), Institut Pasteur de Lille/Inserm (Alain Baulard), and GSK (Modesto Remuinan). Starting from early academic and Biotech research their work culminated in the identification of a novel antituberculosis agent, BVL-GSK098, as a clinical candidate targeting a novel mechanism, called "EthR".
In line Galapagos’ mission to develop first-in-class medicines based on the discovery of novel targets we are happy to acknowledge the contribution of Olivier Defert’s team to the progress of modern medicinal chemistry and drug discovery innovation.The SCT thanks Galapagos for this partnership to acknowledge excellence in interdisciplinary medicinal chemistry for the benefit of patients. The award will be presented at the EFMC-ISMC in Nice.
Galapagos (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) is a commercial-stage biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule medicines with novel modes of action. Our pipeline comprises Phase 3, 2, 1 studies, pre-clinical studies and discovery programs in inflammation, fibrosis, and other indications.
Galapagos seek to develop a robust portfolio of clinical-stage breakthrough therapies that have the potential to revolutionize existing treatment paradigms. Our ambition is to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines that will improve people’s lives.
Galapagos’ mission is to develop first-in-class medicines based on the discovery of novel targets. Using human primary cells and patient cells, the company discovers which proteins (‘targets’) play a key role in causing diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and fibrosis. Galapagos then aims to develop small molecules that inhibit these targets, restore the balance, and thereby positively influence the course of the disease. This approach addresses the disease rather than just treating the symptoms. Galapagos’ aim is to make a lasting positive contribution to society through discovery of breakthrough therapies for diseases with large unmet medical need.
Galapagos has more than 1,200 employees worldwide, with sites in Belgium (international headquarters), the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
The name of Galapagos is strongly associated with an integrative approach to medicinal chemistry and therapeutic innovation.
The company, in partnership with the French Society of Medicinal Chemistry, has decided to award a talented team of researchers contributing to a scientific discovery and /or substantial therapeutic innovation. Specific emphasis will be given to the notion of drug discovery chemistry where combined disciplines, among for example molecular modeling, in silico approaches, chemistry, chemical-biology, biology or ADMET can contribute to the achievement of the team’s objectives.
This contribution may arise from the any phase of research and the aim of this prize is to nominate a talented team.
Candidacies should be emailed to the SCT secretary, secretariat.general@sct-asso.fr as well as to the SCT president, president@sct-asso.fr before the 31st January of the year award.
The candidates or candidate team representative should provide a short pdf document (font: Arial 12, space between lines: 1.15) describing their project with an emphasis of the integration of the various disciplines contributing to science, including the state of art, the context and the exceptional added value of the integrative approach in medicinal chemistry, the potential impact on the downstream phases, the perspectives. This has to be accompanied with the bibliographic references. In addition, a short CV of the team members should be added. The total length of this document (Contribution+ refs+CV) should not exceed 10 printed pages.
The candidate’s team should be based in Europe and the members have to accomplish their duty as SCT member by paying their membership by credit card on the SCT website www.sct-asso.fr to be eligible.
The “Galapagos Award” jury members select the laureate among the candidates.
The “Galapagos Award for integrated medicinal chemistry” (5000 €) is given during the International Conference on Medicinal Chemistry (RICT*), an annual SCT meeting, by a Galapagos company representative and the SCT president.
By accepting the award, the laureate team representative agrees to present a plenary lecture at the next RICT meeting.
* or a SCT (co)-organized event in case RICT meeting cannot take place.
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