Membership Directory
Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Category: Drug Development
Phone: + (203) 848-6920
Fax: + (203) 624-5627
Website: http://www.rib-x.com
Location: New Haven, CT
Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a New Haven, CT-based small molecule drug discovery company focused on the structure-based design of classes of anti-infective agents. our technology platform is based on the high resolution crystal structure of the 50S subunit of the ribosome obtained by Thomas Steitz, Peter Moore and their co-workers. Since the publication of their work (Science 289:905 - 929), their crystallography studies have advanced to include analysis of the structure of known antibiotics bound to the ribosome. The structural data from the antibiotic binding studies will be used at Rib-X to prime parallel lead optimization programs focused on evaluating new chemistry ideas about antibiotic interactions with the multiple binding domains or drug targets within the 50S subunit. Using proprietary computational chemistry tools provided by another scientific founder, Yale Professor William Jorgensen, coupled with the chemical synthesis, biochemistry and crystallographic analysis, we aim to discover new compounds useful as anti-infective agents.
We believe Rib-X technology will offer a competitive advantage because many classical antibiotics work by inhibiting the function of the ribosome. Pfizer’s $1.4B a year block buster antibiotic, Zithromax, is a well-known example. ntil the completion of the research endeavor of Steitz and Moore, the modes of action of the antibiotics have not been understood in chemical terms. During the first two (2) years, the research foal will be to use the 50S subunit structural data to design a proprietary class of antibacterial agent that has broad-spectrum activity against antibiotic=resistant microorganisms. The medical need, the increase in antibiotic resistance and the difficulty in identifyinf new antibiotics is well documented in both the popular and scientific press. The current marketplace and low representation of new classes of antibiotics in clinical trials underscores the continuing value of identifying new agents.
