Date: 2012-12-17
Type of information: R&D agreement
Compound: compounds that target the nuclear hormone receptor RORgammaT
Company: Phenex Pharmaceuticals (Germany) Janssen Biotech - J&J (USA)
Therapeutic area: Autoimmune diseases - Dermatological diseases - Inflammatory diseases - Rheumatic diseases
Type agreement: R&D
licensing
Action mechanism: RORgammaT is a nuclear receptor that was recently identified as a key differentiation factor of Th-17 cells; immune cells that produce and secrete Interleukin-17, which is believed to be a key player in chronic autoimmune-related inflammation. The relevance of the IL-17 pathway has been highlighted by the fact that antibodies that target key cytokines in this pathway have demonstrated impressive efficacy in reducing symptoms in patients with plaque psoriasis. RORgammaT induces the production of IL-17 and is known to bind small molecules. Thus, small molecule therapies that act on RORgammaT have the potential to block the IL-17 pathway in a similar fashion to monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of inhibiting the IL-17 pathway through small molecule RORgammaT inhibitors was recently demonstrated in animal models in two adjacent publications in Nature (Huh et al., Nature 472(7344) 486-90(2011); Solt et al., Nature 472(7344) 491-4 (2011)).
Disease: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease
Details: Phenex Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement with Janssen Biotech and its affiliates to jointly discover compounds that target the nuclear hormone receptor RORgammaT and may have utility in the treatment of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers from Phenex and Janssen will work collaboratively towards the goal of identifying compounds that are active against RORgammaT and optimized for preclinical development. Thereafter, Janssen will have sole responsibility for the continued development and worldwide commercialization of any compounds that arise from the collaboration. By way of this agreement Phenex will be able to fund its operations and does not expect to seek further equity financing.
Financial terms: Under the terms of the agreement Phenex will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments upon the achievement of specific development and regulatory events that could total as much as $135 million. In addition, Phenex will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties and milestones on the worldwide sales of products that arise from the collaboration.
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