HitGen Partners with LabCentral / BioLabs / MBC BioLabs to Accelerate Biotechnology Discovery Release Time：2024-03-26

[San Francisco, CA – March 25, 2024] – LabCentral, a launchpad for high-potential life science and biotech start-ups, BioLabs, an international membership-based network of shared lab and office facilities, and MBC BioLabs, premier providers of co-working laboratory space, announced a partnership with HitGen, a global leader in the design, synthesis, and screening of DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DELs).

Under the partnership, HitGen will provide access to its industry-leading DELs, which contain billions of novel, drug-like small molecules, to the innovative companies at LabCentral, BioLabs and MBC BioLabs. This collaboration will enable biotechnology startups to leverage HitGen's vast library of compounds to rapidly identify and develop novel drug candidates across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

Dr Brian Moloney, Chief Business Officer of HitGen, commented: “We feel very privileged to enter this important collaboration with LabCentral / BioLabs / MBC BioLabs, a leading group of incubator and investment organizations for the biopharma industry. This collaboration provides HitGen with the potential opportunity to work with many emerging and mature highly innovative biotech companies. We are confident that by accessing our extensive drug discovery research capabilities and recognized track record in chemistry, ADME/PK, and pharmacology, as well as our world-leading DEL platform, that the resident companies will not only discover new chemical matter, but also develop their programs faster.”

MBC BioLabs / BioLabs / LabCentral provides state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and a vibrant entrepreneurial community for biotechnology startups. By partnering with HitGen, MBC BioLabs / BioLabs / LabCentral further enhances its offering to resident companies, providing them with access to cutting-edge technologies and resources that can accelerate their research and development efforts.

"We are thrilled to partner with HitGen to bring their innovative DNA-encoded libraries to our resident companies," said Dr. Robert Blazej, Director of MBC BioLabs. "Access to HitGen's libraries will greatly enhance the capabilities of our startups, enabling them to explore new avenues of research and discovery. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the success of early-stage biotechnology companies."

Dr Johannes Fruehauf, Founder and President of BioLabs and LabCentral added: “The establishment of a strategic partnership with HitGen is an important step for BioLabs and LabCentral.  Through this collaboration, our residents gain access to top-tier services provided by HitGen, empowering them with unparalleled opportunities to advance research endeavors, expedite breakthroughs in life sciences, and enhance overall human health and well-being.”

The partnership between HitGen, LabCentral, BioLabs and MBC BioLabs represents a significant step forward in advancing drug discovery and innovation in the biotechnology industry. By combining HitGen's expertise in DELs with collaborative lab environments, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of novel therapies that have the potential to transform patient care.

ABOUT HITGEN INC.

HitGen Inc. (SSE: 688222.SH), is a drug discovery research company with headquarters in Chengdu, China, and subsidiaries in Cambridge, UK and Houston, USA. HitGen has established leading technology platforms to enable the discovery and optimization of small molecules and nucleic acid drugs. Our key technology platforms include world-leading DNA-encoded library technology (DEL), fragment-based drug discovery and structure-based drug design technologies (FBDD/SBDD), as well as the emerging technology platforms for synthetic therapeutic oligonucleotide technology (STO), and targeted protein degradation technology (TPD). Through our diverse and flexible business models, we have built up collaboration partnership with several hundred biopharmaceutical research organizations worldwide. HitGen has multiple programmes from early discovery to clinical trial stage. For more information about HitGen, please visit www.hitgen.com.

ABOUT LABCENTRAL

A private, non-profit institution, LabCentral was founded in 2013 as a launchpad for high potential life-sciences and biotech startups. Operating a total of 225,000 square-feet in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., LabCentral offers fully permitted laboratory and office space for as many as 100 startups comprising approximately 1,000 scientists and entrepreneurs. More information is available at www.labcentral.org.

ABOUT BIOLABS

BioLabs is the definitive growth partner for science-based entrepreneurs, empowering companies to accelerate their science, grow their business, and have a lasting impact on the world. The BioLabs difference is in their sector-defining ecosystem: delivering best-in-class lab space, essential business services, a powerful network of innovators and guides who offer “been-there” insight, and site teams with unparalleled experience guiding founders through the operational complexities of growing a biotech company. BioLabs centers are located in key innovation hubs across North America, Europe, and now expanding to Japan. More information is available at www.biolabs.io.

ABOUT MBC BIOLABS

MBC BioLabs is a premier life science incubator that provides early-stage biotech companies with the resources and support necessary to thrive. Through its network of state-of-the-art laboratories, industry partnerships, and engaged bioentrepreneur community, MBC BioLabs empowers startups to accelerate their research and propel groundbreaking ideas into transformative therapies. Since opening in 2013, MBC BioLabs has helped launch and grow 290 companies. These companies have brought 153 programs to the clinic, produced 17 approved diagnostics, and raised over $13 billion. More information is available at www.mbcbiolabs.com.