Ipsen and Interprotein announce new endocrinology collaboration

Ipsen has announced a new endocrinology-focused collaboration with the Japanese research and development-focused biotechnology company Interprotein.

The alliance focuses on the development and commercialisation of new therapeutic peptides intended for serious medical conditions in endocrinology such as Cushing's disease, and includes an option agreement.

Under the terms of the deal, Ipsen will combine its expertise in design and development of therapeutic peptides targeting specific receptors with Interprotein's ProteinProtein Interaction and helix-loop-helix-peptide technologies.

If Ipsen chooses to exercise its option and fully develop compounds resulting from this collaboration, Interprotein could be eligible for payments of up to 165 million euros (115.58 million pounds).

Claude Bertrand, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Ipsen, said: "Such a collaboration exemplifies Ipsen's strategy in research and development where open innovation and partnerships are key to advance treatments in its focused medical areas."

This comes after the company announced new collaborations with Telesta Therapeutics and EpiVax last month.