Our Biology

Since the biology underlying disease is highly complex, we are taking a multifaceted approach to drug discovery and development. For example, we are focusing on drug candidates targeting opioid receptors, a group of targets that offer opportunities for disease intervention, including addiction, behavior modification, mood, immunology and pain. We have a competitive advantage in this area based on our R&D experience with VIVITROL®, an opioid receptor antagonist, as well as our proprietary library of molecules designed to target different types of opioid receptors.

We have built diverse capabilities to address these research challenges, including expertise in neuropharmacology, biology, toxicology and pharmacokinetics. Our research begins with an understanding of how drug molecules interact with biological target on a cellular level. We also examine the pharmacological properties of the molecule, such as where the molecules are localized in the body and its duration of effect. Our approach also leverages a variety of in vivo and in vitro assays in parallel. Using this approach, we have identified two novel drug candidates, ALKS 33 for the treatment of addiction and ALKS 36 for the treatment of pain.