Blog | August 14, 2024

The Importance of Selecting the Right CRO Partners for Drug Discovery Success

By Ali Chou, Research Scientist

When it comes to drug discovery and development, having the right team and partners is critical for success. For a small biotech, good CROs can be force multipliers, bringing deep and complementary expertise in key areas of drug discovery. The partnership between X-Chem and Montara Therapeutics, led by founder and CEO Dr. Nicholas Hertz, is an example of an innovative, client-first collaboration with a joint goal of finding therapeutics for patients with neurological diseases. 

Before founding Montara Therapeutics, Hertz co-founded and served as the CSO of Mitokinin, a biotechnology company that developed PINK1-targeted therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases. His team had worked closely with X-Chem to discover and optimize compounds targeting PINK1. Their work was successful, leading to the development of a patented clinical candidate and the acquisition of Mitokinin by AbbVie in 2023. 

Shortly after, Hertz co-founded Montara Therapeutics. Leveraging a brain-specific pharmacology platform published by Kevan Shokat’s group, they aim to create next-generation therapies for neurological diseases, including dementia. For this new venture, Hertz renewed his collaboration with X-Chem based on their previous experience and X-Chem’s expertise in brain-penetrating drug candidates. 

Scientific due diligence results in new freedom to operate 

“What really sets X-Chem’s team apart from other CROs is their scientific due diligence and commitment to innovation,” said Hertz.  

According to Hertz, in 2022, during Mitokinin’s work with X-Chem, a paper from David MacMillan’s group appeared in Science. The X-Chem team contacted Hertz three days after the publication. 

“The paper was about a new way to install different types of bonds. X-Chem reviewed the publication just a few days after being published and proposed to apply this method to our project because it could help us access unprecedented chemical space,” said Hertz. 

For drug hunters, accessing completely new chemical space means a path to differentiated pharmacology and patentable molecules.  

“Anyone can do basic molecule optimization,” said Hertz, but he noted that X-Chem’s proactive approach to bringing innovation and value to the project really made a deep impression on him.  

Trust strengthened by track record and science-first mindset 

When Mitokinin was founded, Hertz and his team evaluated all possible CROs in Western countries with extensive neuroscience experience.  

“X-Chem had many publications in this area. They specialized in optimizing molecules for brain penetration and efficacies in the central nervous system.” 

A handful of companies made it to the shortlist, but according to Hertz, what stood out was that X-Chem’s team really understood how to integrate its chemistry expertise with Mitokinin’s biological discoveries.  

“They’re a very cohesive and dedicated team. They do a really good job,” said Hertz about the X-Chem team. “The biggest testament to the excellence of your team is if people come back to work with you again.” 

The importance of the right CRO partner 

The right CRO with specialized expertise can be tremendously impactful for the success of a drug discovery program. Top CROs bring not only robust capabilities but also a solutions- and innovations-oriented mindset to push projects forward, even when dealing with significant challenges. 

For companies working in therapeutic areas with huge unmet patient needs, having a CRO partner with a track record of innovation and a deep commitment to science is invaluable. As Montara continues to develop new classes of neurological therapies, X-Chem is an indispensable partner for pushing the boundaries to maximize its client’s success.  

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