Date: 2015-10-07
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: kinase inhibitors
Company: Horizon Discovery (UK) Servier (France)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: licensing
Action mechanism: kinase inhibitor
Disease: Cancer
Details: * On October 7, 2015, Horizon Discovery, the international life science company supplying research tools and services that power genomics research and the development of personalised medicines, announced that its leveraged business unit has signed a programme in-licensing and option agreement with Servier, the independent French research-based pharmaceutical company. Horizon has in-licensed novel kinase inhibitors from Servier that exhibit great promise based on pre-clinical data for treatment of a range of cancer types but do not currently have a biomarker to define a sensitive patient population. These novel kinase inhibitors have been discovered within the framework of a long standing collaboration between Servier and Vernalis. Horizon will use its platform, comprising isogenic cell lines and in vivo models, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing technology and ultra-high-throughput combination screening, to identify the population of cancer patients most likely to respond to the in-licensed compounds, whether as single agents or in combinations with other drugs. Horizon also has the option to explore the use of the inhibitors in other therapeutic indications. Horizon will evaluate the mechanism of action of the candidate compounds, and will verify the patient stratification hypothesis by both in vitro and in vivo preclinical experiments. Horizon will also define a path towards the development of biomarkers for both patient stratification and drug efficacy.
Financial terms: Under the terms of the agreement, Servier has a first option to license back the assets. Should Servier take up this option, Horizon would receive up to £50 million in milestone payments plus royalties on product sales. If Servier does not take up its option, Horizon will be free to seek another pharma partner and Horizon and Servier would then share in the success of the progression of the programme as it advances into the clinic and registration.
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