Ipsen and Skyhawk Therapeutics announce RNA targeting research collaboration in rare neurological diseases
22 April 2024 - 3:00PM
Ipsen and Skyhawk Therapeutics announce RNA targeting research
collaboration in rare neurological diseases
- Ipsen enters into
an option agreement to receive exclusive global rights to two
candidates pursued under the collaboration
- Following
development candidate validation, Ipsen will assume responsibility
for further development and commercialization, leveraging existing
neuroscience expertise in movement disorders
- This promising
platform technology created by Skyhawk allows for the exploration
of previously undruggable RNA targets with small molecules,
expanding the disease target landscape1
PARIS, FRANCE; BOSTON, U.S., 22 April
2024 - Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) and Skyhawk
Therapeutics today announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide
collaboration to discover and develop novel small molecules that
modulate RNA for rare neurological diseases. The agreement includes
an option pursuant to which Ipsen would acquire exclusive license
for the worldwide rights to develop successful development
candidates (DC). Following successful DC nomination, Ipsen will be
responsible for all activities. Skyhawk’s unique platform
accelerates building RNA-targeting small molecules across several
therapeutic areas, including rare neurological diseases.2
“We are delighted to join forces with the expert
teams at Skyhawk, as we explore the potential for modifying RNA
expression across rare and debilitating neurological conditions.”
said Steve Glyman, SVP and Head of Neuroscience, Research &
Development at Ipsen. “Our focus and expertise in movement
disorders, and across our portfolio, is bringing best and
first-in-class treatments to those with the highest unmet needs,
now further fueled by this novel platform at the cutting-edge of
research.”
“Ipsen is an extraordinary company with a deep
passion for serving patients, and we are excited to partner with
them to expand their pipeline of innovative therapies,” said Sergey
Paushkin, Chief Scientific Officer at Skyhawk. “Our strategic
partnership underscores our shared ambition to develop
transformative medicines for people with rare neurological diseases
for which there are no approved therapeutics.”
Under the terms of the agreement Skyhawk is
eligible to receive up to $1.8 billion in development, regulatory
and commercial milestones, including an upfront payment, for the
option and research collaboration, plus potential for tiered
royalties.
ENDS
About Ipsen
We are a global biopharmaceutical company with a
focus on bringing transformative medicines to patients in three
therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience.
Our pipeline is fueled by external innovation
and supported by nearly 100 years of development experience and
global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K. Our teams in more than
40 countries and our partnerships around the world enable us to
bring medicines to patients in more than 80 countries.
Ipsen is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in
the U.S. through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt
program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information, visit ipsen.com.
About Skyhawk Therapeutics
Skyhawk Therapeutics is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development
of small molecules that modulate RNA. Skyhawk’s discovery expertise
is rooted in its proprietary drug discovery platform which builds
small molecule drug candidates that target RNA splicing targets
across a variety of therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative
disease, autoimmune disease, and oncology. For more information
visit www.skyhawktx.com. Ipsen contacts
Email:
corporate.communications@ipsen.com
Amy Wolf | +41 7 95 76 07
23
Jess Smith | + 44 7557 267
634
Skyhawk contacts
Maura
McMarthyEmail:
maura@skyhawktx.com
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References
1 Drugging RNA, Nature article.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-023-01790-z2 Skyhawk
Therapeutics. https://www.skyhawktx.com/platform
- Ipsen PR_Skyhawk Therapeutics collaboration_22042024
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