Roche forms inflammatory disease collaboration

Roche has signed a research collaboration with the US biotech firm and Amira Pharmaceuticals aimed at finding treatments for inflammatory diseases.

As a part of the agreement Roche will use its screening capabilities to investigate three mutually agreed targets in the field of inflammatory diseases while Amira, a inflammatory disease specialist, will use its expertise to develop the compounds generated.

Roche will also take opt-in rights on two compounds, while under a separate agreement Amira may license two clinical programmes from Roch in exchange for equity, milestones and royalties.

Roche global head of Pharma Partnering Peter Hug said: “In the past, we referred to a ‘win-win’ alliance between pharma and biotech partners.

“Through this new model, we have created a ‘win-win-win’ deal structure where three main players, Roche, Amira and the venture community, are all benefiting from a joint effort to develop potential new medicines for patients.”

Under the research collaboration Amira could receive up to $287 million in total payments, while Roche could receive up to $20 million from Amira’s possible licensing clinical programmes.

© Adfero Ltd