Our
partnering strategy is to establish collaborations with
major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to support
development of internal programs through milestone payments
and downstream royalties.
Eli
Lilly
In December 2007, Galapagos signed a global collaboration
agreement with Eli Lilly to discover and develop new medicines
for the treatment of osteoporosis. The agreement provides
Lilly access to 12 of Galapagos’ proprietary osteoporosis
targets and drug discovery programs. Galapagos will be responsible
for the development of drug candidates through to Phase
IIa clinical Proof of Concept.
GlaxoSmithKline
June 2006, Galapagos signed a broad alliance with GSK to
discover and develop breakthrough medicines in osteoarthritis.
This multi-target, multi-year alliance runs from target
discovery through to delivery of a clinical proof of concept.
In June 2007, the scope of the alliance was expanded to
include up to two drug discovery programs on selected GSK
drug targets. In December 2008, Galapagos announced that
the alliance was further expanded to include two additional
drug targets
In
December 2007, GSK and Galapagos entered a strategic alliance
to develop novel antibacterial and antiviral therapeutics.
Galapagos is responsible for the discovery and development
of natural product small molecule drug candidates through
to clinical Proof of Concept, at which point GSK will have
exclusive option to license each compound for further development
and commercialization on a worldwide basis. The alliance
utilizes the natural product compound collection and chemistry
capabilities of BioFocus DPI, Galapagos’ services
division. In January 2009, the alliance in antibacterials
and antivirals was expanded to include three more discovery
targets.
Janssen
Pharmaceutica
In October 2007, Galapagos announced a multi-target alliance
with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson company,
to discover and develop novel small-molecule therapeutics
for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Galapagos is
responsible for the discovery and development of drug candidates
through to clinical Proof of Concept, at which point Janssen
will have an exclusive option to license each compound for
further development and commercialization on a worldwide
basis.
Merck
& Co
In January 2009, Galapagos announced that it entered into
a multi-year global strategic alliance with Merck &
Co., Inc. to develop potential new therapies in obesity
and diabetes. Galapagos will be responsible for the discovery
and pre-clinical development of new small molecule candidate
drugs based on novel Galapagos targets. Merck will have
the exclusive option to license each candidate for clinical
development and commercialization on a worldwide basis.
Galapagos received a €1.5 million upfront fee from
Merck, and is eligible to receive milestones that could
potentially exceed €170 million. In October 2009 this
alliance was expanded to include development of new therapies
for atherosclerosis. Based on the terms of the expanded
alliance, Galapagos is eligible to receive research, regulatory
and sales milestone payments that may total in excess of
€400 million as well as royalties upon commercialization
of any products covered under the agreement.
In April 2009, Galapagos announced that it entered into
a second strategic alliance with Merck & Co., this time
to develop potential new therapies in inflammation. Under
the terms of this agreement, Galapagos will receive an upfront
fee of €2.5 million from Merck. In addition, Galapagos
is eligible to receive discovery, development and regulatory
milestone payments that could potentially exceed €192
million total for multiple products, as well as specific
sales milestones and royalties upon commercialization of
any products covered under the agreement.
MorphoSys
In November 2008, Galapagos initiated an alliance to co-develop
novel therapeutic antibodies in bone & joint disease.
The partners will combine their proprietary drug targets
and unique technologies to discover and develop antibody
therapies based on novel modes of action in bone & joint
disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and
osteoarthritis. Both companies will share the research and
development costs, as well as all future revenues equally.
Generation of antibodies directed against these targets
will start in 2009.
Roche
In
January 2010, Galapagos announced that it entered into a
multi-year strategic alliance with Roche to develop potential
new therapies in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
In the alliance, Galapagos will apply its target discovery
platform to discover novel COPD targets and is responsible
for the discovery and development of new small molecule
candidate drugs against these targets. Roche will have an
exclusive option to license each small molecule program
after either clinical candidate selection or completion
of Phase I clinical trials. In addition, Roche has an exclusive
option to license the COPD targets for the discovery and
development of antibodies against these targets. Upon exercise
of each option, Roche will be responsible for the further
(pre)clinical development and commercialization. Galapagos
received a research access payment of €6 million from
Roche and is also eligible to receive discovery, development,
regulatory and sales milestone payments that could potentially
exceed €400 million, plus royalties upon commercialization
of any products covered in the agreement.
Related publications
Sustainable
drug discovery: Galapagos' alliance strategy
Hoekema, A
Pharma Focus Asia 2008,8:14-17
