Swiss Biotech firm Novimmune has entered into an option and licence agreement with Roche company Genentech to develop and commercialise its anti-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) monoclonal antibody, NI-0101, to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Financial details have not been disclosed. The agreement follows a deal signed between the two companies in July 2010 to discover and develop antibodies that target the IL-17 signalling pathway for the treatment of auto-immune diseases.

The results of a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study to be performed by Novimmune in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are yet to be reported.

Novimmune chairman and chief executive officer Eduard Holdener said: "We are excited to have now signed a second agreement with Genentech to develop a medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, where there is significant unmet need and the potential to become the first personalised medicine in rheumatoid arthritis."

See Also:

"We are excited to have now signed a second agreement with Genentech to develop a medicine for rheumatoid arthritis."

Under the exclusive agreement, Genentech has an option to licence all rights to develop and commercialise the drug.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

If the licence option is exercised, Genentech would be undertaking further development and potential commercialisation of the drug and would pay Novimmune an undisclosed amount.

In addition, upon obtaining certain predetermined clinical, regulatory and commercial benchmarks, Novimmune would be eligible for payments and royalties on net sales achieved through the licence agreement.

Novimmune develops antibody-based drugs to treat inflammatory diseases, immune-related disorders, and cancer.

Image: Severe arthritis in hand that was not treated. Photo: courtesy of James Heilman, MD.