Regen BioPharma has entered into a definitive agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to receive compounds from Lilly for drug discovery purposes and allows Regen to share structural information on compounds of mutual interest.

Regen will examine 21,000 Lilly compounds in its NR2F6 high-throughput screening program to identify activators and inhibitors of this protein. NR2F6 is a molecular switch known as an “orphan nuclear receptor,” which controls genes associated with the immune response as well as genes associated with the ability of cancer stem cells to propagate.  

Lilly has an option to negotiate a compound purchase agreement, a license agreement, or a research collaboration agreement for further research and development of material of mutual interest.

“Lilly’s Open Innovation Drug Discovery Program is visionary,” said Harry Lander, Ph.D., MBA, president and chief scientific officer of Regen BioPharma, Inc. “They understand the value of partnering in a confidential manner with smaller entities that may have intellectual property that aligns with their product goals.”