Sosei subsidiaries in gastrointestinal collaboration

Heptares Therapeutics and Jitsubo, two subsidiaries of the Japanese drugmaker Sosei Group (TSE Mothers Index: 4565), have entered into a collaboration to develop novel peptide candidates designed to target a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) implicated in severe gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

This is the first strategic collaboration between Sosei subsidiaries and will involve Jitsubo applying its Peptune and Molecular Hiving peptide engineering technologies and medicinal chemistry capabilities to a GPCR target selected by both partners.

Heptares, which was bought by Sosei in February 2015 for up to $400 million, has significant insights into the 3D structure of the receptor via its proprietary StaR platform. The target GPCR plays an important role in several GI indications and is currently in discovery phase.