Sanofi to use DiCE Molecules’ platform to boost drug discovery
pharmafile | March 16, 2016 | News story | Research and Development | DiCE Molecules, Sanofi
Sanofi has announced a research partnership with newly-launched DiCE Molecules in which the French pharma giant will use DiCE’s small molecule platform to boost discovery of up to 12 new therapeutics.
The deal will see Sanofi pay $50 million upfront, plus an additional fee of up to $184 million for each target in research, clinical and regulatory milestone payments. DiCe would also be eligible for potential sales royalties, and could ultimately receive as much as €2.3 billion if all candidates achieve regulatory success.
The five-year collaboration builds upon DiCE’s unique technology platform, which uses directed evolution to select and optimise low molecular weight compounds against any target, shortening drug development timelines. The platform’s capabilities include the potential to unlock protein-protein interfaces that were previously unreachable for oral therapies. DiCE specialises in producing oral versions of drugs which would traditionally have to be administered by injection.
This latest collaboration is part of Sanofi’s Sunrise Initiative partnership model, focused on early-stage innovation, in which the company seeks to invest in early stage transformative opportunities that align its own development and commercialisation abilities.
“In the past, targeting protein-protein interfaces with small molecules was not thought possible in a generalisable fashion, especially in the development of orally bioavailable drugs,” says Kevin Judice, president and chief executive of DiCE. “Our platform is uniquely positioned to overcome these historical challenges and this partnership with Sanofi reinforces the potential of our technology. DiCE’s self-financing business model and distinctive partnership approach will allow us to focus solely on advancing our development programs. We are delighted to be collaborating with Sanofi and its innovation-focused team within the Sunrise Initiative.”
“We are pleased to initiate this collaboration with DiCE and its unique technology platform, which brings the power of selection and enrichment to small molecule discovery,” adds Dr Kathy Bowdish, head of Sunrise, Sanofi. “We hope this partnership will help deliver essential therapies against currently intractable disease targets, and help patients who otherwise have been unable to receive treatments outside of the inpatient setting. This initiative will allow our teams to combine their wealth of knowledge in drug discovery and further strengthens Sanofi’s commitment to open innovation.”
Joel Levy
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