Sosei Heptares, a Tokyo-headquartered pharmaceutical company, has entered into a strategic multi-target partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical to discover, develop and commercialize small molecules and biologics that modulate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, in a deal worth over $1.2 billion.

Under the agreement, the partnership will combine the proprietary GPCR-focused structure-based drug design capabilities at Sosei Heptares with Takeda’s discovery, development and therapeutics area expertise directed towards multiple GPCR targets nominated by Takeda. The nominated targets represent new therapeutic intervention points across a range of diseases. The collaboration will initially focus on high-priority gastrointestinal targets, but the agreement includes the potential expansion into other therapeutic areas.

Sosei Heptares is eligible to receive up to $26 million in upfront and near-term payments, in addition to research funding over the term of the agreement, plus future development, commercialization and net sales-based milestone payments that may exceed $1.2 billion. Sosei Heptares is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of any licensed products by Takeda resulting from the partnership.

Takeda receives exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize therapeutic agents for each novel target through specific pharmacological approaches in the collaboration.

Source: Sosei Heptares