Date: 2012-07-10
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: portfolio of small molecules and biologics designed to trigger the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells
Company: Janssen Pharmaceuticals J&J (USA) - CureBeta (initiative was established by Harvard, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and Evotec in 2011 to leverage the assets and expertise in industry and academia to identify and develop disease-state modifying therapeutic targets) (Germany - USA)
Therapeutic area: Metabolic diseases
Type agreement: licensing
Action mechanism:
Disease: diabetes
Details: Janssen Pharmaceuticals has licensed exclusive access to a portfolio of small molecule and biologic research programs focused on the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells in people with diabetes from the CureBeta initiative formed by Evotec AG and Harvard University . All drug development on behalf of Janssen will be conducted by Janssen Research & Development. Under the terms of this license and collaboration agreement, Janssen will receive exclusive access to a series of candidates designed to trigger the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells. The small molecules and biologics were identified by scientists in the Harvard University laboratory of Douglas Melton, and further analyzed in collaboration with scientists from Evotec, as part of the CureBeta research and development program.
The CureBeta initiative was established by Harvard, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and Evotec in 2011 to leverage the assets and expertise in industry and academia to identify and develop disease-state modifying therapeutic targets. To that end, Evotec’s Dr. Cord Dohrmann and Harvard University Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Doug Melton, recognized leaders in the field of beta cell research, began a unique international collaboration. During the initial period of the collaboration, Evotec, HHMI, and Harvard established new standards in beta cell regeneration in terms of assays and tools as well as novel high potential targets. Janssen Pharmaceuticals will provide industrial scope and scale as well as pharmaceutical development expertise and marketing capabilities.
Financial terms: The agreement between Evotec and Janssen triggers an upfront payment of US $8 million. Upon achievement of certain pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial goals, Janssen would make future milestone payments, of up to a total of about US $200 million to US $300 million per product. In addition, Janssen will pay royalties on future sales of any products that result from this collaboration. The upfront, milestone and royalty payments will be shared by Evotec and Harvard according to pre-agreed terms. Evotec will receive additional research support for discovery and early development work that will be conducted in collaboration with Janssen.
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