EraCal Therapeutics has signed a collaboration and license agreement with Danish pharma producer Novo Nordisk. According to a press release issued by the biotech start-up from the canton of Zurich, this agreement covers the further development and marketing of EraCal’s program for metabolic diseases, particularly obesity.
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk has secured exclusive rights to develop and market this novel mechanism of action, which was discovered with EraCal’s platform technology. In return, EraCal is entitled to receive upfront, development and commercial milestone payments of up to €235 million, as well as further royalties on sales of a marketed product.
“EraCal Therapeutics brings a unique drug discovery approach for obesity and other metabolic diseases,” says Dr Bei Zhang, CVP and therapeutic area head of diabetes, obesity and MASH at Novo Nordisk, explaining why his company has entered into the agreement. He adds that they aim to “realize the value of [the EraCal] platform and discover innovative medicines for people living with obesity.”
Ann Clare Kessler, chairman of EraCal Therapeutics, believes Novo Nordisk is the perfect partner “to assess EraCal’s molecules that we believe have a unique mechanism for body weight control.” She says it is a honor for the EraCal team led by CEO Josua Jordi and COO Simon Breitler to have Novo Nordisk develop these molecules.
EraCal Therapeutics was established as a spin-off from the University of Zurich and the University of Harvard and is a member of the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zürich. ce/mm
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