Agreements

Date: 2017-05-18

Type of information: Milestone

Compound: small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists

Company: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Israel) Heptares Therapeutics (UK)

Therapeutic area: CNS diseases - Neurological diseases

Type agreement: licensing - development - commercialisation

Action mechanism:

calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is released during migraine attacks and can trigger migraine in patients. CGRP is found in small to medium-sized neurons in the trigeminal ganglion and mediates its activity through G protein-coupled receptors located throughout the body. Elevated levels of CGRP are found in migraineurs during an attack and blocking CGRP activity is a validated mechanism of action for relieving pain, and also for preventing migraine.

Disease: migraine

Details:

• On November 25, 2015, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Heptares Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation announce that they have entered into a licensing and drug-discovery agreement under which Teva will receive exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel, small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists discovered by Heptares for the treatment of migraine.

Financial terms:

Under the terms of the agreement, Heptares will receive an upfront payment of $10 million , research funding, and is eligible to receive additional research, development and commercialization milestone payments of up to $400 million . In addition, Heptares will be eligible to receive royalties on net sales of products resulting from the alliance.

Latest news:

• On May 18, 2017, Heptares Therapeutics has been notified by Teva that a preclinical candidate calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist has been nominated for advancement into further preclinical studies as an investigational treatment for migraine. Nomination of this small-molecule candidate has triggered a US$5 million payment from Teva to Heptares under the terms of their licensing and drug-discovery agreement signed in 2015. Teva is looking to build a leadership position in the treatment of migraine and headache and this compound is the first milestone in a partnership to generate novel candidates for the treatment of episodic and chronic migraine.