Boehringer Ingelheim and Saniona, a biotechnology company based in Copenhagen, Denmark and focused on drugs for central nervous system diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, and pain therapies, have formed a collaboration to discover and develop compounds for the treatment of schizophrenia. Saniona may receive up to EUR 90 million ($101 million) in milestone payments, including an upfront payment of EUR 5 million, upon signing of the agreement. Saniona is also eligible to receive royalties on worldwide net sales of any resulting products under the collaboration. Further financial details were not disclosed.

The collaboration aims to identify compounds that could be capable of restoring brain network activity in patients with schizophrenia. The neuronal activity in the brain of such patients can be impaired by a functional imbalance between stimulating and inhibitory transmission of signals between neurons.

Saniona grants Boehringer Ingelheim exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize medicines identified through the collaboration. In addition to upfront and milestone payments and royalties on net sales, Saniona will receive undisclosed research funding during the joint research period.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim