Pharnext partners with Galapagos

To date, Paris-based Pharnext identified two candidate therapies by its pleotherapy approach: Phase III neuropathy candidate PXT3003, and Phase IIa Alzheimer’s candidate PTX864. The company’s platform firstly identifies all potential drug targets for a specific disease using extensive genomics. From this disease network, the company’s experts deduce low dose synergistic combinations of drugs already approved in other indications that can target multiple disease-related pathways in silico. Following in vitro screening and testing in animal models, the most synergistic combo is identified to give one pleodrug. 

Though the companies did not announce a specific therapeutic focus of their R&D collaboration, it’s obvious that Galapagos NV can add significant know-how in the autoimmune therapeutics space. It’s lead Phase III candidate figlotinib targets rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Morbus Crohn, while others target cystic fibrosis, osteoarthritis, or atopic dermatitis. Under the terms of the agreement, Pharnext will use its approach to improve efficacy of a preclinical or clinical candidate drugs provided by Galapagos or to identify already approved drugs which could be combined at low doses with Galapagos’ lead. Each of the companies will have priority on indications which will have been previously allocated.

?Intellectual property with regard to synergistic drug combinations generated by the R&D collaboration will be jointly owned by Pharnext and Galapagos. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.