Ipsen and Oncodesign collaborate on Parkinson's disease target

French companies Oncodesign and Ipsen (Euronext: IPN) have entered into a research collaboration to discover and develop innovative LRRK2 kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents against Parkinson's disease and for potential additional uses in other therapeutic areas. Oncodesign, a drug discovery company and oncology pharmacology service provider, and Ipsen will leverage their respective expertise to bring innovative therapeutic solutions to Parkinson patients.

Under the terms of the accord, Ipsen is granted two exclusive options to exclusively license Oncodesign's LRRK2 inhibitor program, notably upon successfully reaching clinical proof of concept, with worldwide development, manufacturing and commercialization rights. Oncodesign is entitled to a technology access fee, funding of the program's research and early development activities and, on exercise of the license options, opt-in fees and additional development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments potentially totaling 115 million euros ($149 million) for the development of molecules in two or more indications, and tiered royalties on net sales.

Ipsen has had a few recent research disappointments, including the discontinuation of its cancer drug candidate Irosustat (BN 83496) as a monotherapy and Roche’s rejection of the firm’s taspoglutide (The Pharma Letters June 8 and February 3, 2011). However, over the last year or so, Ipsen has also announced new or expanded collaborations with companies such as Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals on hemophilia, Syntaxin on novel botulinum toxin therapeutics and Santhera on Parkinson’s disease candidate fipamezole (TPLs passim).