Takeda licenses global rights to Theravance Biopharma's TD-8954

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4502) has reached agreement with Theravance Biopharma (Nasdaq: TBPH) for rights to the latter’s Phase II drug candidate for gastrointestinal motility disorders, worth a potential $125 million to the Ireland-incorporated company.

TD-8954 is being developed for the short-term use with enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) to achieve early nutritional adequacy in critically ill patients at high nutritional risk, an indication for which the compound received US Food and Drug Administration fast track designation.  Theravance has most recently completed a study evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of the compound administered intravenously compared to metoclopramide in critically ill patients with EFI.

Deal provides $15 million upfront