Anima Attracts Takeda In Multibillion-Dollar mRNA Translation Modulators Deal For Neurological Diseases
Small-molecule mRNA translation Israeli firm Anima Biotech Inc has landed a new research deal with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (NYSE: TAK), covering as many as six programs for genetically-defined neurological diseases.
Two-part collaboration could hold as much as $2.3 billion in clinical and commercial milestone payouts.
Under the deal, Anima will initially conduct preclinical research for Huntington’s disease and two other small molecule candidates and get $120 million upfront from Takeda.
Takeda then has the option to expand the deal from three to six, which will open the door for the remaining $1.2 billion in milestones and tiered royalties.
Anima has a licensing deal with another major pharma company, Eli Lilly. According to an agreement in July 2018, Anima worked on several undisclosed protein targets.
Lilly paid out $30 million upfront and $14 million in research funding. Anima is eligible for up to $1.05 billion in milestones from this deal.
So far in 2021, Takeda has offloaded two of its non-core units - the first portfolio, sold to Hasten Biopharmaceutic for 2 million in January. And last month, Takeda sold four type-2 diabetes products to Teijin Pharma for ¥133 billion.
But in addition to these types of deals, Takeda is also plunking down big cash for licensing deals.
Last October, Takeda penned a 0 million RNAi alliance with Arrowhead, promising more than $1 billion total.
In January, Takeda put up 0 million with up to $400 million in milestones for KSQ Therapeutics and its CRISPR-screened natural killer cell therapies. And earlier this week, Vivek Ramaswamy’s Genevant — an LNP delivery tech outfit — scored a $600 million deal with Takeda.
Recently, Takeda paved the way to boost its immuno-oncology portfolio with the Maverick Therapeutics acquisition.
Price Action: TAK shares are trading 0.13% lower at $19.50 in market trading hours on the last check Thursday.
See more from Benzinga
IDT Biologika To Make J&J's COVID-19 Vaccine Using Takeda's Manufacturing Capacity
Takeda To Expand Immuno-Oncology Portfolio With Maverick Therapeutics Acquisition
© 2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
