Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), headquartered in Germany, has entered into a global collaboration and exclusive option-to-license agreement with Sosei Group Corporation (TSE: 4565), a Japanese firm. This strategic partnership aims to develop and commercialize Sosei Heptares’ portfolio of first-in-class GPR52 agonists, targeting a novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to address the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Upon signing, Sosei Heptares will receive an upfront payment of EUR 25 million from Boehringer Ingelheim. The company is also eligible for an option exercise payment of EUR 60 million, with potential development, regulatory, and commercialization milestone payments totaling up to EUR 670 million, plus customary tiered royalties on future Boehringer Ingelheim product sales for a clinical-stage asset.
The agreement grants Boehringer Ingelheim the exclusive option to license Sosei Heptares’ GPR52 agonists portfolio after the completion of Sosei Heptares’ ongoing Phase I and subsequent Phase Ib trial, and further Phase II enabling activities with HTL0048149, a first-in-class GPR52 agonist. Sosei Heptares will maintain control and act as the sponsor of these trials until the option is exercised, which is estimated to occur in 2025. The licensed portfolio will include HTL0048149, as well as multiple differentiated back-up compounds designed by Sosei Heptares using its StaR technology and structure-based drug design (SBDD) platform.- Flcube.com
