Galapagos NV has decided to opt-in on the co-promotion of filgotinib with collaboration partner Gilead Sciences in eight European countries, pending approval.

Galapagos assumes 35% of the co-promotion efforts in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and the companies will share profits and losses in these territories. Outside the co-promotion territories, Galapagos will be eligible to receive royalties on global sales of filgotinib.

Filgotinib is currently being evaluated in Phase III studies in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, and in Phase II studies in small bowel Crohn’s disease, fistulizing Crohn’s disease, Sjögrens, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, uveitis, and lupus membranous nephropathy.

“With this decision, Galapagos takes the next step in its development and moves towards the commercial phase. We and Gilead are preparing the potential launch of filgotinib, during which time Galapagos plans to build a commercial infrastructure to co-promote with Gilead. It is gratifying that, after all the early years of innovation, Galapagos is now preparing to commercialize the first asset arising from our discovery efforts,” said chief executive officer and founder of Galapagos, Onno van de Stolpe.