Strategic partnership to target natural killer cells

French biopharma company Innate Pharma and Novo Nordisk of Denmark have entered into a major partnership to develop new drugs targeting natural killer (NK) cells, one of the body's first lines of defence against cancer and infections. As part of the agreement Novo Nordisk will invest Euro 10m in new Innate Pharma equity, increasing its stake in the company to around 20%.

Having collaborated on an initial three-year project, the partners have established competitive and complementary competences in this area and have advanced one project through research and preclinical development. By now combining forces on a broader scale, the partnership aims to build a portfolio of new drug candidates, originating from their own research or by further in-licensing from third parties.

According to the agreement, the companies will collaborate for at least the next three years to develop new molecules - chiefly antibodies - that stimulate or inhibit NK cell activity. Although the partnership covers all therapeutic indications, drug candidates will be developed primarily in cancer, autoimmune disorders and infections. The collaboration will seek to bring drug candidates through preclinical trials, at which point Novo Nordisk will take responsibility for clinical development and regulatory approval.

Both companies will contribute intellectual property rights, expertise and r&d personnel in the NK cell field on an exclusive basis. Novo Nordisk will be the exclusive licensee of all drug candidates developed under the agreement, although Innate Pharma will retain some rights to specific niche indications.

For its contribution, Innate Pharma will receive approximately €25m in upfront payment, r&d funding and preclinical milestone payments during the three-year period. It will also be eligible for remuneration of developmental and regulatory milestones and royalties on future product sales.