Servier and Scandicure to conduct research in metabolic diseases

France’s second-largest pharma firm Servier has entered into an agreement with Gothenburg University spin-out Scandicure to exploit the latter’s innovation in the field of metabolic disease.

Scandicure, in collaboration with the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI-funded European Lead Factory, has developed inhibitors of a novel biological target for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), type-2 diabetes and potentially other metabolic diseases.

Servier will continue research started by Scandicure and advance Scandicure’s novel compounds through preclinical development using Servier’s drug discovery capabilities and knowledge of the disease areas. Under the terms of the agreement, Servier will provide Scandicure with an undisclosed upfront payment, as well as pre-clinical and clinical milestones.