Roivant Sciences gains global rights to Eisai's dermatitis candidate E6005

Japanese pharma major Eisai (TYO: 4523) has entered into an agreement to license its in-house discovered selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor E6005 to Bermuda-based privately-held Roivant Sciences.

Under the accord, Eisai will grant Roivant an exclusive worldwide license (including Japan) concerning the research, development, manufacture and marketing of E6005. Currently, E6005 is at the Phase II clinical trial stage for atopic dermatitis in Japan, and Roivant will conduct research and development going forward. Furthermore, according to the agreement, Eisai will receive a one-time upfront payment from Roivant, and will also receive milestone payments in line with future development progress as well as specified royalty payments after market launch. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

Discovered in-house by Eisai’s Tsukuba Research Institute, E6005 is a selective PDE4 inhibitor. It is known that PDE4 is an enzyme that degrades the second messenger cyclic AMP. PDE4 is involved in inflammation and the immune response. In non-clinical and clinical studies conducted to date by Eisai, E6005 exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and suggests suppression of itching relating to atopic dermatitis by selectively inhibiting PDE4.