The USA’s Neurocrine Biosciences has signed its second major deal in as many days, this time with Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim and for diabetes.
Specifically, the companies are teaming up to develop small molecule GPR119 agonists for the treatment of type II diabetes and other indications. Under the terms of the collaboration, Neurocrine will receive a $10 million upfront fee, research funding to support discovery efforts and is eligible to receive up to $225 million in milestone payments, plus royalties. Further financial details were not disclosed.
Neurocrine noted that the activation of GPR119 receptors located in the digestive system stimulates incretins, resulting in increased insulin production. Dimitri Grigoriadis, vice president of research at the San Diego-based firm, said combining Boehringer’s R&D expertise in metabolic disorders with Neurocrine’s “unique capabilities in small molecule discovery for G-protein coupled receptors provides a strong platform for development of new therapies for type II diabetes”.
Neurocrine shares rose again, a day after hitting a 52-week high when the company announced that Abbott Laboratories is getting access to its investigational endometriosis treatment elagolix in a deal that could be worth $575 million.
