Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited have formed a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize therapies to treat rare genetic diseases.

Ultragenyx will initially receive an exclusive license to one preclinical Takeda product candidate in a pre-determined field of use and will have an exclusive option to co-develop and co-commercialize the product candidate in additional therapeutic areas. The companies have also established a five-year research collaboration in which Ultragenyx will have the option to license up to five additional Takeda product candidates for rare diseases after the parties agree on and conduct initial validation activities under the purview of a Joint Research Committee.

Takeda will receive an exclusive option to commercialize any licensed products resulting from the collaboration in Asia, including Japan. In addition, Takeda receives an option to exclusively license one Ultragenyx pipeline product in Japan. Each company will receive potential development and sales milestone payments and royalties on net sales of licensed products by the other party.

Takeda will invest up to $65 million in Ultragenyx in two tranches, the first of which will comprise a $25 million stock purchase along with a $15 million cash premium at closing. This will be followed at Ultragenyx’s option, within 12 months, by a second equity purchase of $25 million with no additional premium. A potential third equity investment by Takeda is contingent upon Ultragenyx achieving a specific development milestone on a second asset. No additional financial details were disclosed.

The completion of the transactions are subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR) review and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Source: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical