Engitix expands collaboration with Takeda

Privately-held UK biotech Engitix has entered into an agreement with Japan’s Takeda (TYO: 4502) to expand an existing collaboration to now include the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for fibrostenotic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Under the terms of this agreement, Engitix and Takeda will collaborate in the confirmation and validation of targets and the preclinical development of therapeutics in IBD using Engitix’s unique extracellular matrix (ECM) discovery platform.

Takeda will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialise certain clinical candidates generated against validated targets arising from the collaboration. Engitix will receive an upfront payment, with additional near-term payments based on the confirmation and functional validation of selected targets.