Clovertex Target of the Month (12/23): M4R

Amidst a flurry of big pharma deals, the Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M4 has emerged as our December 2023 Clovertex Target of the Month. Bristol Myers Squibb's acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics for $14 billion brings into focus KarXT, a novel therapy targeting M4 and M1 receptors for schizophrenia. This move is closely paralleled by AbbVie's acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics for $8.7 billion, which is developing Emraclidine, also targeting the M4 receptor, for similar indications.

These strategic acquisitions emphasize the growing importance of M4 receptors in the treatment of mental health disorders. KarXT and Emraclidine represent a new approach in addressing schizophrenia, and in the case of KarXT, psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease patients. The rendering features is the cryo-EM structure of human M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor complex with Gi1 and the agonist iperoxo and positive allosteric modulator VU0467154 (PDB 7TRQ).  

About Clovertex

Clovertex is an industry leader specializing in meeting the scientific IT needs of pharmaceutical companies, with a robust focus on cloud-based or on-premises cryo-EM processing. As an Advanced Tier Services Partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Clovertex leverages its comprehensive expertise to architect, build, automate, and manage software applications designed to meet specific research needs. Our all-encompassing solutions are meticulously tailored to streamline the complex processes associated with pharmaceutical research, underscoring our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with deep scientific understanding, Clovertex paves the way in optimizing the intersection of information technology and pharmaceutical development.

Useful links

1. Bristol Myers bets on neuroscience surge with $14B Karuna cash acquisition

2. Clovertex website