A2A Pharmaceuticals, Hyderabad, has signed an agreement to co-develop SARS-CoV-2 Main Proteases inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19 with Laxai Life Sciences, also based in Hyderabad. 
Under this collaboration, A2A designed the molecules using its proprietary computational AI-enabled drug discovery platform SCULPT, which are currently being synthesized and will be evaluated by Laxai. Both parties will collaborate in preclinical optimization and selection of lead candidates to enter the clinic.
With this collaboration, A2A wants to put its technology and expertise to use to discover highly selective targeted inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 MPro, as opposed to repurposing or vHTS efforts ongoing elsewhere, to design more efficacious and safer treatments.
"MPro is a very attractive drug target for COVID-19 due to its pivotal role in mediating viral replication and transcription as well as its druggability owing to a well-defined pocket and susceptibility to targeted covalent inhibitors demonstrated in recent structural information", said Dr. Elena Diez Cecilia, program lead and director of BD and R&D strategy for A2A. 
She added, “We're excited to embark on this collaboration with Laxai, combining our drug design expertise with Laxai's vast drug discovery experience including chemical process R&D and GMP manufacturing. Combined, we are positioned to accelerate development to reach patients faster.”

Both companies will collaborate in preclinical optimization and selection of lead candidates to enter the clinic.