CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anchor Therapeutics today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OMJPI) with the goal of developing G protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-targeted therapeutic compounds utilizing Anchor's proprietary pepducin technology.
Under the agreement, Anchor and OMJPI will work jointly to discover and optimize preclinical development candidates against GPCR targets in oncology and metabolic disorders, including Anchor's program targeting gpr39, a GPCR involved in metabolic diseases. OMJPI will assume responsibility for development and commercialization. Anchor will receive an upfront payment and research support and could be eligible for development and regulatory milestone payments up to $480 million.
"We are excited about enhancing our pepducin drug development platform and pipeline of GPCR-targeted opportunities and look forward to working with OMJPI to discover new treatment options for patients," said Frederick Jones, M.D., President and CEO of Anchor.
About Pepducin Technology
Pepducins are lipidated peptides designed to be allosteric modulators for G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, especially those intractable to current approaches. They are composed of a short peptide derived from a GPCR intracellular loop linked to a lipid moiety. This structure allows pepducins to anchor in the cell membrane and target the GPCR protein via a unique intracellular allosteric mechanism. The pepducin technology platform represents an entirely new paradigm for modulating GPCR signal transduction, potentially transforming the scope of GPCR therapeutics to treat a much wider range of serious illnesses including inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Pepducin technology is licensed exclusively to Anchor Therapeutics.
About Anchor Therapeutics
Anchor Therapeutics is developing first-in-class pepducin drug candidates, novel molecules that can selectively target G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to allosterically modulate GPCR signaling. For more information, please visit www.anchortx.com.