Takeda, Enterome Form Microbiome Drug Collaboration
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. and Enterome Bioscience SA, a Paris-based biotechnology company, have formed a strategic drug discovery collaboration to research and develop potential new therapeutics directed at microbiome targets thought to play crucial roles in gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. ulcerative colitis) and motility disorders (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome).
Enterome will use its proprietary metagenomic platform to support the discovery of potential novel agents (small molecules or biologics) derived from gut bacteria and directed to the gastrointestinal (GI) targets selected by Enterome and Takeda. Takeda has an option to license selected agents on an exclusive global basis and will be responsible for their regulatory and clinical development as well as their commercialization.
Enterome will receive an upfront payment and three-year R&D funding and is eligible to receive additional payments for each molecule discovered through the collaboration in the form of option exercise, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. In addition, Enterome is eligible to receive potential tiered royalties on the net sales of any products that are commercialized by Takeda. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Enterome is focused on developing drugs and diagnostics to support personalized therapies in microbiome-related diseases such as GI disorders, cancer, and metabolic diseases.
Source: Takeda Pharmaceutical