Global healthcare company Viatris Inc. and Idorsia Ltd have entered a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional assets in the future.
 
The collaboration includes selatogrel, a potential life-saving self-administered medicine for patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, and builds on Viatris’ existing global cardiovascular franchise and specialty infrastructure, as well as its knowledge, leadership, and distribution capabilities for self-administered medication for acute life-threatening conditions.
 
The collaboration also includes cenerimod, a novel immunology asset that has the potential to be a first-in-class oral therapy for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus. Through lifecycle management, this asset also has the potential for broad application across multiple autoimmune diseases in a specialist-driven category with attractive market dynamics for oral therapies and could be a cornerstone asset in Viatris’ immunology platform.
 
Viatris CEO Scott A. Smith said: “I am extremely pleased with our global research and development collaboration with Idorsia. We are connecting Idorsia’s proven, highly productive drug development team and innovation engine with Viatris’ strong global infrastructure and experience to focus on two late-stage potential blockbuster assets with long-dated patent protection. I believe that together we will be able to execute on the potential of these global assets, and any future assets, as we work to deliver on our goal of building a more durable, predictable portfolio on the foundation of our strong base business, and that selatogrel and cenerimod can become meaningful components of Viatris’ business over the long term.
 
Idorsia CEO Jean-Paul Clozel, MD, said: “I’m delighted that with Viatris we have found a strong partner to secure and accelerate the development programs for both selatogrel and cenerimod by leveraging the strength of Viatris’ global infrastructure. From the first meeting, it was clear that the team at Viatris shares the same excitement and engagement for our innovations. This global collaboration allows us to share the costs of the ongoing Phase 3 programs whilst retaining long-term shareholder value, by sharing the rewards for success through the milestones and royalties.”