Servier and Oncodesign have reached a key milestone in their strategic partnership on research and development of potential drug candidates for Parkinson’s Disease.
 


In March 2019 the companies entered a R&D partnership involving the LRRK2 kinase inhibitors derived from Oncodesign’s Nanocyclix platform, and their potential to act as therapeutic agents against Parkinson’s Disease. The partnership leverages the expertise of Servier and Oncodesign in the fields of neurodegenerative diseases and macrocyclic kinase inhibitors.
 


Both companies have reached a first important milestone in the program. Next steps, which are subject to further milestone payments, will validate the Nanocyclix platform to have the potential to deliver small molecule drugs as therapeutics against Parkinson’s Disease. Oncodesign receives a first success payment in the program of €1 million. Over the life of the partnership, Servier could pay Oncodesign as much as €320 million in milestones, excluding royalties. In addition, Oncodesign receives approximatively €3 million in annual funding during the research phase of the project.
 


Philippe Genne, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Oncodesign, said: “Following the selection a few weeks ago of our first candidate drug inhibitor of RIPK2, this is very good news coming from our strategic collaboration with Servier. The collaboration works perfectly and both teams are up to the challenges. The results were obtained sooner than expected which allowed us to reach our first milestone several months in advance, showing more than ever the important mastery of the Nanocyclix® chemistry by our teams. We are very honored to collaborate successfully with Servier.”  
 


Christophe Thurieau, Executive Director, Servier Research Institute, said: “We are very pleased with the rapid progress we have made together with Oncodesign in this collaborative program, with a very efficient and dynamic joint team, and look forward to continuing success over the coming years to reach our common goal of bringing a new treatment for patients who suffer from the scourge of Parkinson’s Disease.”