Matchpoint Therapeutics, Novartis Partner to Develop Covalent Medicines for Inflammatory Diseases

Matchpoint Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm specializing in precision covalent medicines, has entered into an exclusive option and license agreement with Novartis to develop and commercialize oral covalent inhibitors targeting a transcription factor associated with multiple inflammatory diseases.

The collaboration aims to leverage Matchpoint’s proprietary Advanced Covalent Exploration (ACE) platform to target a novel binding site on a protein previously considered difficult to drug, with the goal of inhibiting its function and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

“This collaboration highlights the potential of our targeted approach to covalent chemistry to unlock novel mechanisms and achieve superior pharmacology,” said Andre Turenne, President and CEO of Matchpoint Therapeutics. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Novartis, not only for its leadership in immunology research, but also for its outstanding drug development and commercialization track record. These capabilities will ensure that our program has the maximum impact for patients.”

Under the agreement, Matchpoint will lead research efforts through development candidate selection, with funding provided by Novartis. If Novartis opts to exclusively license the program, it will gain global rights to develop and commercialize resulting products. Matchpoint could receive up to $1 billion in payments, including development and commercial milestones, along with tiered royalties on future sales.

“Novartis is deeply committed to pioneering innovative approaches for patients living with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases,” said Richard Siegel, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Immunology Research at Novartis. “We are excited to partner with Matchpoint to advance covalent medicines with the potential to address unmet medical needs and historically undruggable targets.”

The partnership underscores a growing interest in covalent chemistry to tackle challenging therapeutic targets, potentially offering new treatment options for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.