Pharmacopeia has identified a pair of new lead compounds for advancement in its alliance with GlaxoSmithKline. The first of the lead compounds forms the basis of a new lead optimization program focused on identifying a treatment for respiratory disease. The other newly identified lead compound is the second from a program in inflammatory pain. As a result of the identification of these new lead compounds, Pharmacopeia will receive milestone payments totaling $1 million from GSK, which is conducting the work through its Center of Excellence for External Drug Discovery (CEEDD)

Pharmacopeia has received $10 million from GSK in connection with early discovery activities and is entitled to an additional $5 million payment upon the completion. Pharmacopeia is also entitled to success-based milestone payments totaling as much as $83 million per program and potential double-digit royalties on the sales of any product commercialized by GSK under the multi-program alliance. Should GSK decline its option to complete pivotal trials of alliance programs, Pharmacopeia may independently pursue them, subject to its obligations to GSK under the agreement.

“With the identification of these two compounds, our collaboration has now identified a total of three new leads this year,” said Hugh Cowley, senior vice president of GSK and head of the CEEDD at GSK. “We are extremely pleased to see the continued rapid and impressive achievements of the team driving this successful collaboration.”

“Since entering into this collaboration just over 18 months ago, we have advanced multiple programs focusing on compelling targets toward development candidates,” said David Floyd, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Pharmacopeia. “We are very pleased that progress within the collaboration exceeds our initial estimates and that compounds are coming from multiple programs in multiple therapeutic areas. We’re particularly happy to have added a second lead to our ongoing pain program as this significantly increases its chances of overall success.”