Bristol-Myers Squibb has signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire an exclusive global license to a discovery biologics research program focused on modulating the innate immune system as a therapy for autoimmune diseases. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense against pathogens and responds to exogenous agents in an antigen non-specific way to stimulate an immediate protective response. Dysregulated innate immunity plays a critical role in the induction and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb