BridGene Biosciences and Galapagos NV Join Forces in Landmark Collaboration for Oncology Drug Discovery

1 minute read

BridGene Biosciences and Galapagos NV Join Forces in Landmark Collaboration for Oncology Drug Discovery

BridGene Biosciences, Inc., a trailblazer in small molecule drug discovery for challenging targets, has announced a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG). This groundbreaking partnership leverages BridGene’s innovative chemoproteomics platform, IMTAC™, to discover novel small molecule drug candidates targeting traditionally “hard-to-drug” oncology targets.

Under the terms of the collaboration, BridGene will utilize its IMTAC™ platform to identify and advance small molecule drug candidates against oncology targets specified by Galapagos. Galapagos, in turn, holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize these drug candidates through the various stages of clinical development.

As part of the collaboration, Galapagos will make substantial payments to BridGene, including up to $27 million in upfront and preclinical research milestone payments. Furthermore, BridGene is eligible to receive over $700 million in potential clinical and commercial milestones, assuming the success of the collaborative programs. In addition to these milestone payments, BridGene stands to receive tiered royalties on net sales for each product resulting from the collaboration.

Pierre Raboisson, PhD, Senior Vice President and Head of Small Molecules Discovery at Galapagos, expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating, “BridGene’s proven expertise in discovering small molecule drugs for challenging targets positions them as an ideal partner in pioneering new avenues in oncology drug discovery. By integrating BridGene’s innovative platform with our robust capabilities in drug discovery and clinical development, we are poised to develop breakthrough cancer therapies. Our goal is to deliver transformative precision medicines for cancer with limited treatment options.”

Dr. Ping Cao, Co-Founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciences, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the strategic importance of collaborations for the company. “Partnering is a fundamental strategy for BridGene. We aim to create collaborations that significantly boost the likelihood of success. This is achieved by integrating our innovative discovery platform and expertise in tackling ‘hard-to-drug’ targets with the wide-ranging scientific, clinical, and commercial expertise of partners like Galapagos.”

The collaboration underscores the commitment of both companies to advance the field of oncology drug discovery, with the goal of delivering innovative and transformative therapies for patients facing challenging medical conditions. The strategic alignment of BridGene’s capabilities with Galapagos’ scientific expertise positions this collaboration as a potent force in addressing critical needs in cancer treatment.