Novo Nordisk secures rights to EpiDestiny sickle cell disease programme

Novo Nordisk has announced a new licensing deal with EpiDestiny for a promising sickle cell disease programme.

The EPI01 programme focuses on the development of a novel, orally available, disease-modifying therapy, which has shown potential benefits for the treatment of sickle cell disease during a recently-completed phase I trial.

It works by increasing levels of foetal haemoglobin, which helps to bolster red blood cell half-life, reduce the number of pain crises and increase life expectancy. The data generated thus far suggests EPI01 can be a safe and meaningful disease-modifying therapy.

Under the terms of the deal, EpiDestiny will be eligible to receive more than $400 million (GBP 285.52 million) in upfront, development and sales-related milestone payments, with EpiDestiny and Novo Nordisk to collaborate to develop EPI01 in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassaemia, while EpiDestiny retains the product's oncology rights.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice-president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, said: "We are looking forward to working closely with EpiDestiny and their great network among sickle cell disease experts and the sickle cell community."

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