Heptares and Takeda initiate drug discovery collaboration focused on GPCR linked to CNS disorders

13-Apr-2011 - United Kingdom

Heptares Therapeutics and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced the formation of a two-year drug discovery collaboration focused on a single G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays an important role in the pathology of central nervous system disorders. This GPCR has proved intractable using historical drug discovery efforts, due to its instability when removed from cell membranes and the resulting lack of insight into its structure. A new medicine targeting this GPCR would be first-in-class.

During the collaboration, Heptares will leverage its proprietary StaR® (stabilised receptor) technology to engineer the first-ever thermally stabilised forms of the GPCR as the basis for the drug discovery programme. Heptares will also apply advanced structural biology and rational drug design approaches – including Biophysical Mapping™, X-ray crystallography and fragment screening – to characterise the GPCR's structure and to generate early leads. Takeda will participate in lead generation and then assume responsibility for preclinical development and clinical development of new drugs candidates.

Under the terms of the agreement, Takeda receives worldwide commercial rights to new drugs emerging from the collaboration. Upon signing, Heptares received an upfront payment of £1.7 million and an investment in an equity stake of approximately £2.8 million purchased by Takeda Ventures Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda. Heptares is also eligible to receive future milestone payments of up to £60.5 million plus royalties on product sales. Further terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/131899/heptares-and-takeda-initiate-drug-discovery-collaboration-focused-on-gpcr-linked-to-cns-disorders.html