Daiichi Sankyo and NGM announce new diabetes collaboration

Daiichi Sankyo is entering into a new collaboration with NGM Biopharmaceuticals to discover and develop novel therapeutics for diabetes.

Under the terms of the alliance, the companies will produce new drugs that modulate beta-cell regeneration, a mode of action that could offer disease-modifying benefits for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

NGM will apply its integrated discovery technology and in vivo screening platform to identify and validate physiologically-relevant metabolic targets, while Daiichi Sankyo will handle preclinical studies, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialisation duties.

Daiichi Sankyo will gain exclusive global rights to any new compounds arising from this collaboration, with NGM receiving milestone-based payments.

Dr Kazunori Hirokawa, global head of the research and development unit of Daiichi Sankyo, said: "We are extremely confident that this collaboration will expand our research activities in the cardiovascular metabolic area, which is a high priority target area for our company."

Last month, Daiichi Sankyo announced the introduction of a new corporate slogan, "Passion for Innovation. Compassion for Patients", which will help to strengthen its international brand identity.