Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim has an option to exclusively license Sosei’s portfolio of GPR52 agonistsGPR52 agonists following the completion of an ongoing Phase Ia trial and a subsequent Phase Ib study of the lead candidate, dubbed HTL0048149. Initial data from the early-stage study of HTL0048149 – a once-daily, oral drug - are expected in 2025.
The portfolio also contains a number of differentiated back-up compounds designed by Sosei using its StaR technology and structure-based drug design (SBDD) platform.
Boehringer Ingelheim will make an upfront payment of €25 million ($27 million), with Sosei set to receive a further €60-million ($66 million) option exercise payment, as well as further milestones totalling up to €670 million ($733 million) and tiered sales royalties.
Matt Barnes, head of UK R&D at Sosei, remarked “this collaboration highlights the significant potential GPR52 has shown in preclinical research.” The companies noted that the receptor is located in the two areas of the brain that drive the positive and the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.