Daiichi Sankyo pays milestone fee to development partner Pieris

Daiichi Sankyo has made an undisclosed payment to Pieris based on the progress achieved thus far in their ongoing drug development collaboration.

Pieris has achieved the third milestone for its lead programme following the progression of an Anticalin drug candidate through a non-GLP toxicity study in non-human primates. This programme was transferred to Daiichi Sankyo last year.

This marks in total the fourth milestone achieved for the parties' two collaborative research and development projects. Pieris receives research funding and payments for the achievement of predetermined preclinical regulatory and commercial goals.

Anticalins are therapeutic proteins derived from human lipocalins that have been rationally engineered to solve the pharmacological and pharmaceutical limitations of both protein and non-protein-based drug platforms.

Stephen Yonder, chief executive officer of Pieris, said: "The speed with which Daiichi Sankyo is advancing the programme demonstrates their commitment and the straightforward development pathway for Anticalins."

This comes after Daiichi Sankyo reported positive results from a new phase III trial of its anticoagulant therapy edoxaban last month.