The deal will give $125m to Recludix Pharma in near-term payments from the French pharmaceutical firm in addition to a potential $1.2bn in research, regulatory, and sales milestone payments
Recludix Pharma enters into strategic collaboration with Sanofi for STAT6 inhibitors. (Credit: Globetrotter19/Wikimedia Commons)
Recludix Pharma has signed a collaboration agreement with Sanofi to advance oral signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) inhibitors for multiple immunological and inflammatory (I&I) indications based on the former’s drug discovery platform.
According to the terms of the partnership, Sanofi will own the global rights to small molecule STAT6 inhibitors.
The deal will give $125m to Recludix Pharma in near-term payments from the French pharmaceutical company in addition to a potential $1.2bn in research, regulatory, and sales milestone payments.
In addition, Recludix Pharma may also be eligible for up to double-digit royalties on potential future product sales.
STAT6 is said to be an important nodal transcription factor that preferentially mediates the downstream signalling of IL-4 and IL-13, which are central and dominant cytokines in the pathophysiology of Type 2 inflammatory illnesses.
Recludix Pharma CEO Nancy Whiting said: “This collaboration for the advancement of a preclinical oral STAT6 inhibitor speaks to our ability to successfully solve the challenge of drugging this attractive, yet elusive, therapeutic target.
“We are proud of the breakthroughs we have made in drugging SH2 domains as demonstrated by the STAT6 program and we are excited to partner with Sanofi, a preeminent global biopharmaceutical company with industry leading I&I therapeutic area expertise and capabilities, who shares our vision for advancing an oral STAT6 inhibitor forward quickly for the benefit of patients.”
From preclinical research and development until the beginning of Phase 2 trials, Recludix Pharma will advance STAT6 inhibitors. After that, Sanofi will oversee clinical research and marketing across the globe.
Additionally, Recludix Pharma will have the option to take part in US profit/loss sharing. This includes the capacity to participate in specific co-promotional efforts for the partnered product in the US as well as the ability to share equally in costs, profits, and losses.
Sanofi CSO and Research global head Frank Nestle said: “We are excited to partner with the Recludix team to continue to advance innovative strategies for targeting this previously considered undruggable target, aligned with our mission to best serve patients with inflammatory disease.”