Molecure S.A. a clinical stage biotechnology company that uses its world leading medicinal capabilities to discover and develop first in class small molecule drug candidates that directly modulate RNA and unexplored protein targets to treat multiple incurable diseases, announces today that it has regained full rights to its dual chitinase inhibitor OATD-01 together with all the related IP and know-how, full drug substance and drug product inventory. This is the result of an ongoing corporate strategy and portfolio review by its partner Galapagos NV.
Marcin Szumowski, Molecure CEO commented “We have enjoyed a very productive relationship with Galapagos and are pleased that we have been able to regain rights to OATD-01, which we believe holds great promise in several respiratory indications. Data generated to date reveal an attractive benefit-risk profile for this asset, and we look forward to revising our clinical strategy for the further development and subsequent partnering of this program in the near future.”
Andre Hoekema, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Galapagos added “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Molecure and to work on OATD-01. However, as part of an ongoing strategic exercise to renew and accelerate our portfolio, we decided to return all rights to OATD-01 to Molecure, with the confidence that they will progress this promising asset through the next stages of development.”
The return of OATD-01 and associated chitinase inhibitor programs provides Molecure with a renewed opportunity to generate value for its shareholders.
Once the internal assessment of data, reports and information received from Galapagos is completed, Molecure considers to initially develop OATD-01 in sarcoidosis, its preferred and originally selected indication. The company will seek the optimum path forward in this indication, with the intention to conduct a Phase II proof-of-concept (PoC) study. This will likely be an international study recruiting patients in the United States and Europe, including Poland.