BRIEF—Chugai and TwoCells ditch deal on gMSC 1

Japanese companies Chugai and TwoCells have announced the termination of their collaboration for the investigational regenerative cellular medicine for knee chondrogenesis gMSC 1.

This covers the entire agreements, including the license accord concluded between the two companies in April 2016, and memorandum and amendment agreement based on the license agreement, noted Chugai, which is majority-owned by Swiss pharma giant Roche.

Both companies will decide the effective termination date upon consultation.

Upon termination of the agreement, all domestic and foreign rights with respect to gMSC 1 granted to Chugai from TwoCells will be returned to the latter.

There will be no payment or receipt of milestone fees between the two companies.

This decision does not negate the potential of gMSC 1 for traumatic cartilage defects or osteochondritis dissecans in the knee, nor does it result from any efficacy or safety issues with gMSC 1 for other indications, Chugai stated.