IRICoR is delighted with the announcement made today by ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“ONO”), one of Japan’s largest clinical-stage pharmaceutical companies, on signing a collaboration agreement with Domain Therapeutics S.A. (“Domain”) and University of Montreal (“UdeM”), to discover new small molecules targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the treatment of a metabolic disease.
“Very early on, we identified and supported this promising program towards its next milestones. Over the past few years, IRICoR has added value to this project through significant financial, intellectual property strategy, and business development support towards establishment of promising partnerships. This new alliance streamlined by IRICoR, establishes strong ties between Dr. Michel Bouvier’s research team at IRIC/UdeM, Domain, a long-time partner, and ONO, our new strategic partner, for the benefit of young patients,” commented Hélène Grangé, Senior Manager, Contracts and Licenses, IRICoR.
Under the terms of this agreement, ONO will make an upfront license payment and fund research activities at Domain and at UdeM for upcoming collaborative research programs, and will have access to the bioSens-All® technology, a GPCR drug discovery platform licensed to Domain by UdeM. The agreement also includes project development milestone payments and royalties on future sales to be made by ONO to Domain and to UdeM.
“We are proud to have tangibly contributed to the development of this academic project until the establishment of this key collaboration with a major partner which will ultimately make it possible to offer a therapeutic option to patients suffering from a metabolic disease, commented Nadine Beauger, President & CEO, IRICoR. “This new partnership is further proof of the success of the IRICoR solution with the scientific community towards the development of therapeutic innovations,” she adds.
To read ONO’s press release, click here.