Peapod Bio and Agora Open Science Trust Join Forces to Accelerate PRMT6 Inhibitor Discovery
Partnership unites label-free mass spectrometry with generative AI and expert chemical synthesis to address a rare neuromuscular disease.
CHICAGO, IL, JULY 30, 2026 – Peapod Bio Inc., a recognized leader in innovative assay development and high-throughput screening (HTS) solutions, and Agora Open Science Trust, a Canadian charity advancing medicines through open science, today announced a new collaboration to rapidly advance small molecule therapeutics.
The collaboration is part of Agora’s open science drug discovery program targeting protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6), a promising therapeutic target for Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), a rare and debilitating neuromuscular disorder with significant unmet clinical need.
Peapod Bio brings its label-free and high-throughput polymeric enrichment array (PEA) platform, combining advanced surface chemistry and state-of-the-art MALDI mass spectrometry, to rapidly characterize AI-designed PRMT6 inhibitors. By accelerating the critical “test” phase of the design-make-test-analyze (DMTA) cycle, Peapod Bio’s technology enables a faster progression of therapeutic leads with higher confidence.
Agora Open Science Trust is leading the PRMT6 drug discovery program through its collaborative open science model, bringing together expertise in AI-enabled molecular design, medicinal chemistry and disease biology. By integrating Peapod Bio’s screening capabilities into the program, the collaboration strengthens the iterative discovery process and accelerates the identification of promising PRMT6 inhibitors.
In the spirit of open science, all data generated, including structures, assay results, and program progress will be made publicly available to the broader research community.
“We are proud to be recognized as a leading assay solutions partner and selected to contribute to this collaboration that brings new hope to SBMA patients” said Dr. Zachary Gurard-Levin, PhD, CEO of Peapod Bio. “This program exemplifies what is possible when innovative technologies in AI design, chemical synthesis, and high-throughput screening come together with a shared mission.”
The collaboration reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to advancing innovative drug discovery through collaboration, scientific excellence, and open data sharing.
“Open science succeeds by bringing together partners with complementary expertise,” said Dr. Peter Sampson, VP of Drug Discovery of Agora Open Science Trust. “Peapod Bio’s innovative platform adds an important capability to our PRMT6 program, enabling us to generate high-quality experimental data more efficiently while ensuring that the resulting knowledge remains openly available to accelerate research for the entire SBMA community”.
About Peapod Bio:
Peapod Bio Inc. leads the industry with an innovative approach to mass spectrometry that rapidly delivers assay development, high-throughput screening, and hit-to-lead solutions for small molecule and peptide drug discovery. Guided by rigorous scientific standards and clear, transparent communication, Peapod Bio ensures no surprises in data, timelines, or cost. Whether benefiting from label-free or optical technologies, our expert team works as an extension of your lab to deliver robust, reliable data faster than any other CRO. Discover more at www.peapodbio.com.
About Agora Open Science Trust:
Agora Open Science Trust is a Canadian charity whose mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of affordable new medicines through open science. Agora’s first initiative – M4K Pharma (‘Medicines for Kids’) – is using open science to drive preclinical and clinical development of a novel ALK2 inhibitor for the treatment of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain cancer. Agora’s pipeline of collaborative open science drug discovery programs has recently expanded to include programs for Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder, and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease — both of which currently have no approved treatment.
Agora continues to welcome collaborative funding partners whose support will help advance M4K2009 into clinical evaluation and sustain its mission to develop affordable medicines through open science. You can support its mission at https://www.agoraopensciencetrust.org/donate-to-our-mission
Peapod Bio appoints Michael Scholle, MS, MBA to Board of Directors
Appointment brings over fifteen years as a CRO executive
Peapod Bio, Inc, an industry leading contract research organization for small molecule assay development and high-throughput screening solutions, announced the appointment of Michael Scholle, MS, MBA, to its board of directors, effective immediately.
Scholle brings over twenty-five years of experience in assay development and high-throughput screening solutions for small molecule and peptide drug discovery, along with molecular biology, protein engineering, and experience integrating automated solutions. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Tango Biosciences, Inc., a CRO that offers affinity reagent and peptide discovery solutions using phage display.
“Mr. Scholle’s track record of building successful biotech companies is stellar and his expertise in developing efficient and robust commercial operations will support our growth strategy,” states Zachary Gurard-Levin, CEO for Peapod Bio. “His expertise in merging science and business will be an invaluable resource to Peapod Bio.”
“I am honored to be on the Board of Directors and support Peapod Bio into its next phase of growth and expansion of its industry leading solutions in small molecule drug discovery.” adds Scholle.
Peapod Bio Announces In-House 200,000-Compound Library Through Partnership with Enamine
Peapod Bio is excited to announce a new partnership with Enamine, Ltd, a global leader in small-molecule libraries, significantly expanding the discovery power available to our clients. Through this collaboration, Peapod Bio now offers an in-house collection of 200,000 diverse, pharmacophore-like compounds, available as singletons or pooled formats to be screened using a wide array of biochemical and affinity selection mass spectrometry (ASMS) assays.
This newly integrated library brings unprecedented chemical breadth to our assay development and high-throughput screening workflows, enabling faster identification of high-value hits and smoother progression into downstream optimization
This collaboration brings together complementary strengths, exceptional chemistry, and cutting-edge screening solutions. Together, we’re advancing comprehensive drug discovery solutions.
With this expanded capability, Peapod Bio continues to strengthen its position as a next-generation CRO that blends innovative assay design with powerful screening technologies, assisting partners accelerate discovery from concept to candidate.
For inquiries about accessing the library or integrating it into your next screening campaign, please contact our team and read the full press release here.
Peapod Bio, Inc. launches with innovative assays and drug discovery services
Peapod Bio, Inc., a new contract research organization (CRO), launches to offer small molecule assay development and high-throughput screening (HTS) services using label-free and optical technologies. Our innovative mass spectrometry platform, powered by polymeric enrichment arrays (PEAs) and state-of-the-art MALDI instrumentation, accelerates the characterization of biochemical activities and binding interactions for virtually any target.
With a world-class team and breakthrough technologies, Peapod Bio is pushing the boundaries of innovation to advance the discovery of new therapeutic leads. Our team of assay experts collaborates with clients to engineer novel assays and deliver decision-making data faster than any other CRO.
Read more about it in the press release.
Tango Biosciences Appoints Zachary Gurard-Levin, PhD to Board of Directors
Tango Biosciences, Inc., the premier contract research organization for custom affinity reagents by phage display, announced the appointment of Zachary Gurard-Levin, PhD, to its board of directors effective immediately. Gurard-Levin brings over two decades of experience in assay development and driving successful research programs for biotech…