A Clinical Genetics-based Drug Development Company
Xenon is a life sciences company focused on developing innovative therapeutics based on clinically and genetically validated drug targets. We conduct research and development activities on a number of novel drug products with the potential to significantly transform patient care in the areas of pain, anemia, metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
Xenon’s science has been validated by numerous peer reviewed publications, government funding grants and corporate awards as well as through successful partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Takeda.
Innovative Methodology – Extreme GeneticsTM & Opposite Phenotypes
Using our worldwide clinical network, we study rare inherited human diseases representing severe and extreme forms or the opposite presentation of common diseases. Unlike genetic studies in common complex conditions, these rare inherited diseases allow us to more readily identify specific drug targets that are critical to the disease biology in humans and therefore represent highly validated intervention points for new medicines.
An example of this innovation is Xenon’s pain program where we defined a novel target in rare individuals unable to perceive any pain. This finding suggests that this target is key for human pain perception. Medicines that inhibit this target are predicted to partially recreate the absent pain observed in these rare individuals and we expect could be effective, novel analgesics to treat common forms of pain.
Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
As part of maintaining a balanced and broader pipeline and to keep Xenon well capitalized, we have entered into select partnerships with top-tier pharmaceutical companies. These partnerships provide a steady revenue stream while helping to offset the risks of development. In many cases these collaborations allow us to develop and maintain select rights to discoveries we make in the course of the partnership. Partnering also enables us to have a broader R&D pipeline, which de-risks our business and ultimately supports our success.