HitGen Secures Gates Foundation Funding for Drug Discovery Targeting Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Non-Hormonal Contraception
Key Insights
HitGen Inc. has entered into a new contract agreement with the Gates Foundation (search) to leverage its DNA-encoded library (search) platform for discovering novel therapeutics targeting underserved diseases.
The company will conduct screening against 15 drug targets for tuberculosis (search), malaria (search) treatment, and non-hormonal contraception agents using its platform of over 1.2 trillion small molecules.
This funding builds upon a previous Gates Foundation (search)-supported project where HitGen successfully identified novel drug leads for malaria (search) and tuberculosis (search) treatment.
Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed HitGen Inc. has announced a new contract agreement with the Gates Foundation (search) to discover novel therapeutics for underserved diseases, including tuberculosis (search) and malaria (search), as well as agents for non-hormonal contraception. The Chengdu-based drug discovery company will utilize its industry-leading DNA-encoded library (search) (DEL) platform to identify promising drug candidates for these critical global health challenges.
Comprehensive Drug Target Screening Initiative
Under the terms of the agreement, HitGen will conduct DEL screening against 15 drug targets identified by the Gates Foundation (search) in collaboration with academic partners and research institutes. The company will receive dedicated funding from the Gates Foundation to support this discovery work, expanding upon a previous successful project where HitGen identified novel drug leads for malaria (search) and tuberculosis (search) treatment.
The screening initiative leverages HitGen's extensive molecular library, which contains over 1.2 trillion small molecules generated through DEL technology. This vast collection enables comprehensive screening capabilities that have proven effective in drug discovery projects for organizations worldwide.
Leadership Perspective on Global Health Impact
"We are honored to continue this important work with support from the Gates Foundation (search)," said Dr. Jin Li, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of HitGen Inc. "We look forward to engaging with other world-leading philanthropic and academic institutions to deliver transformative solutions for patients with unmet medical needs."
The collaboration reflects HitGen's commitment to addressing diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations, particularly in developing regions where tuberculosis (search) and malaria (search) remain significant public health challenges.
Advanced Technology Platform Capabilities
HitGen has established itself as a world leader in DEL technology development and applications for early-stage small molecule drug discovery. The company's platform efficiency has enabled drug discovery partnerships with several hundred biopharmaceutical research organizations globally.
Beyond DEL technology, HitGen maintains diverse technology platforms including fragment-based drug discovery and structure-based drug design technologies (FBDD/SBDD), oligonucleotide-based therapeutics (OBT), and targeted protein degradation technology (TPD). The company is also developing a DEL+AI+Automated DMTA (Design-Make-Test-Analyze) molecular optimization platform to accelerate preclinical candidate compound discovery and optimization.
Global Operations and Research Portfolio
HitGen operates from its headquarters in Chengdu, China, with subsidiaries in Cambridge, UK and Houston, USA. The company maintains multiple programs spanning from early discovery through clinical trial stages, demonstrating its comprehensive drug development capabilities across the therapeutic pipeline.
The new Gates Foundation (search) agreement represents a continuation of HitGen's focus on addressing global health challenges through innovative drug discovery technologies, potentially leading to breakthrough treatments for diseases affecting millions worldwide.