MRC Technology (U.K.) has
entered into an agreement with
Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group for an exclusive license to a series of small molecule drug candidates for the potential treatment of neurological disease.
This is the first small molecule chemistry programme to come out of MRC Technology’s Centre for Therapeutics Discovery and the first major small molecule collaboration the CTD has formed with an industry partner.
Officials with MRC Technology said that under the terms of the agreement, the company will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive clinical development milestone payments and royalties on sales.
Full financial terms and the target of the small molecule project have not been disclosed.
"We are delighted that we have been able to partner this programme with Genentech, and extremely pleased that the terms of our agreement reflect the value of the small molecule drug discovery programme and support our innovative business model," said Dave Tapolczay, CEO of MRC Technology, in a statement.
Dr Tapolczay said that this licensing deal is just one example of the innovative ways that MRC Technology is now exploiting both its small molecule and therapeutic antibody capabilities.
“We can collaborate with other technology transfer organizations, on a shared risk basis, to develop small molecule drug discovery programmes and targets with therapeutic potential,” he said.
Dr Tapolczay said that when the resulting clinical candidate is subsequently licensed, both parties will not only accomplish their translational research aims, but also share in its commercial success going forward.
MRC Technology is the exclusive commercialization agent for the U.K. Medical Research Council, working to translate cutting edge scientific discoveries into commercial products.
It is now one of the most successful academic healthcare technology transfer organization in the world
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Juliana Kenny
