TOKYO, Japan I July 31, 2013 I Teijin Pharma Limited Opening a new window, the core company of the Teijin Group’s healthcare business, announced today that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with Amgen Opening a new window, a leading biotechnology company, to discover, develop, and commercialize small molecule drugs that target RORγ. The agreement grants Amgen an option to obtain a worldwide (ex-Japan) exclusive license to compounds discovered in the joint research collaboration, while Teijin Pharma will hold exclusive rights in Japan.
Teijin and Amgen will work together to identify candidates that modulate the activity of RORγ, an emerging and promising target for autoimmune disease drug development. RORγ is a key driver of differentiation and regulation of Th17 cells, which play a pivotal role in inflammation and are broadly implicated in autoimmune diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Teijin Pharma will receive an upfront payment in addition to potential milestones and royalties. Teijin Pharma will also have the right to co-promote potential products in select Asian markets.
“As we pursue R&D to discover new treatments for autoimmune diseases,” said Hiroshi Uno, president of Teijin Pharma, “the collaboration with Amgen, which possesses the highest level of expertise and global development capabilities in the field of autoimmune diseases, is expected to timely provide us with a potential breakthrough in the discovery of new therapeutic compounds in this field and then maximize their value.”
Autoimmune diseases arise when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies its own healthy tissues or cells as foreign and attacks them. The best known of these diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. The number of patients is increasing worldwide and while treatments exist, there is an increasing demand for new treatment options that provide superior efficacy, safety and convenience.
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY745.7 billion (USD 7.4 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.4 billion (USD7.6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
SOURCE: Teijin Pharma
Post Views: 209
TOKYO, Japan I July 31, 2013 I Teijin Pharma Limited Opening a new window, the core company of the Teijin Group’s healthcare business, announced today that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with Amgen Opening a new window, a leading biotechnology company, to discover, develop, and commercialize small molecule drugs that target RORγ. The agreement grants Amgen an option to obtain a worldwide (ex-Japan) exclusive license to compounds discovered in the joint research collaboration, while Teijin Pharma will hold exclusive rights in Japan.
Teijin and Amgen will work together to identify candidates that modulate the activity of RORγ, an emerging and promising target for autoimmune disease drug development. RORγ is a key driver of differentiation and regulation of Th17 cells, which play a pivotal role in inflammation and are broadly implicated in autoimmune diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Teijin Pharma will receive an upfront payment in addition to potential milestones and royalties. Teijin Pharma will also have the right to co-promote potential products in select Asian markets.
“As we pursue R&D to discover new treatments for autoimmune diseases,” said Hiroshi Uno, president of Teijin Pharma, “the collaboration with Amgen, which possesses the highest level of expertise and global development capabilities in the field of autoimmune diseases, is expected to timely provide us with a potential breakthrough in the discovery of new therapeutic compounds in this field and then maximize their value.”
Autoimmune diseases arise when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies its own healthy tissues or cells as foreign and attacks them. The best known of these diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. The number of patients is increasing worldwide and while treatments exist, there is an increasing demand for new treatment options that provide superior efficacy, safety and convenience.
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY745.7 billion (USD 7.4 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.4 billion (USD7.6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
SOURCE: Teijin Pharma
Post Views: 209
