The CF Foundation announced today that EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. achieved another milestone in its collaborative effort to discover CF therapies. EPIX will receive a $500,000 milestone payment for successfully screening drug candidates that target the delta F508 mutation of CFTR, the key protein associated with cystic fibrosis. Delta F508 is the most common mutation in CF patients.  

Previously, EPIX developed a three-dimensional computer model of CFTR, which allows researchers to identify specific areas within CFTR that are potential targets for new drugs.

“Our collaboration with EPIX continues to yield important scientific advances,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Foundation. “We are pleased with the tangible results and we look forward to continuing our work together as we focus on our goal of creating new therapies to treat CF.”

This milestone payment brings the total amount achieved under this collaboration to $5 million.