Hybrigenics and Servier sign three-year research deal
Will study deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) applied to a number of therapeutic areas
French pharmaceutical firms Hybrigenics and Servier have signed a three-year licensing and research deal in the field of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) applied to oncology, neurology, psychiatry, rheumatology, ophthalmology, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Hybrigenics’ mission is to identify and validate new DUBs in these therapeutic areas. The firm will also screen for potential drugs able to modulate four undisclosed targets, already selected as a DUB priority. Its activities may also lead to the discovery of companion diagnostics.
Servier will provide the test compounds, develop the most promising compounds and market the products registered.
Hybrigenics will receive an upfront payment and research funding totalling €4m. Depending on the achievement of milestones, Hybrigenics is further eligible to receive up to €9.5m for each of the targets resulting in a new registered drug, and to royalties on sales of companion diagnostic kits.
‘The inhibition of DUBs is a very innovative approach to stimulate the degradation of specific intra-cellular proteins, with a clear potential impact in treating cancer and possibly many other diseases,’ said Bernard Marchand, head of Servier Research.
