Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Ono), headquartered in Osaka, Japan, has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Congruence Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Montreal, Canada. This partnership aims to develop innovative small molecule correctors targeting key proteins in the oncology field by leveraging Congruence’s proprietary drug discovery platform, Revenir™.
Collaboration Overview
The agreement outlines a synergistic effort to address pressing needs in oncology drug discovery:
- Congruence’s Role: Congruence will use its Revenir™ platform to design and generate novel small molecule correctors for multiple protein targets associated with cancer.
- Ono’s Rights: Ono has secured exclusive global rights to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize the resulting small molecule candidates.
- Financial Terms:
- Congruence will receive an upfront payment from Ono.
- The partnership includes funding for research expenses.
- Milestone payments tied to the progress of research, development, and sales will be provided.
- Tiered royalties based on net sales of approved therapies will also be part of the agreement.
Statements from Leadership
Ono’s Perspective
Seishi Katsumata, Corporate Officer and Executive Director of Discovery & Research at Ono, expressed optimism about the collaboration. “We believe that this collaboration with Congruence may help generate novel small molecule correctors for validated targets in the oncology area by leveraging their technologies in protein dynamics and computational biology. This partnership aligns with our commitment to enriching our development pipeline and delivering innovative drugs to cancer patients as quickly as possible,” he stated.
Congruence’s Viewpoint
Dr. Sharath Hegde, Chief Scientific Officer at Congruence, shared enthusiasm about the partnership. “Congruence is thrilled to partner with Ono, which has established itself as a global leader in drug development, particularly in the oncology space. We believe that our Revenir™ platform and expertise in protein dynamics will accelerate the discovery of novel therapies for compelling targets of interest to both companies,” he said.
The Revenir™ Platform
Congruence’s proprietary Revenir™ platform is at the heart of this collaboration. It employs advanced technologies in computational biology and protein dynamics to identify and design small molecule therapies. By focusing on the behavior and structure of proteins implicated in disease, Revenir™ offers a cutting-edge approach to discovering therapies for complex and challenging targets in oncology.
Significance of the Collaboration
This partnership between Ono and Congruence highlights the increasing importance of leveraging innovative technologies in drug discovery. The oncology field, which continues to pose significant challenges in treatment development, stands to benefit greatly from collaborations that integrate computational biology with traditional drug development methodologies.
Ono, with its extensive history and expertise in drug development, especially in oncology, aims to bolster its development pipeline with the novel candidates generated through this partnership. Congruence, as a leader in computational approaches to drug discovery, will play a pivotal role in accelerating the identification of viable therapeutic candidates.
Commitment to Cancer Patients
Both companies emphasized their dedication to addressing unmet needs in cancer treatment. By focusing on novel targets and leveraging innovative technologies, the collaboration seeks to develop drugs that can transform the lives of cancer patients globally.
