C4XD to receive milestone payments worth up to $16 million before first clinical trial
C4XD, a drug discovery-focused company, has entered into a global licensing agreement worth up to $402 million with AstraZeneca for its NRF2 activator program.
AstraZeneca will oversee the commercialization and development of oral therapies for the treatment of inflammatory and respiratory diseases, primarily focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
C4XD will receive preclinical milestone payments worth up to $16 million, including an upfront payment of $2 million, prior to the first clinical trial. Under the terms of the agreement, the company is also eligible to receive an additional $385.8 million in clinical development and commercial milestones.
NRF2 is a key natural regulator, regulating the expression of antioxidant genes and playing an important role in cellular defense against external aggression. Targeting the NRF2 pathway to reduce inflammatory damage offers the potential for new approaches to treat various inflammatory diseases such as COPD. Activation of NRF2 may help mitigate the adverse effects of disease progression caused by oxidative stress.
Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, Biopharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, said: Our partnership with C4XD adds a significant new asset to our portfolio that pushes the boundaries of science by targeting potential disease drivers to potentially modify the course of these diseases. “
Clive Dix, CEO of C4XD, commented:
“NRF2 is considered to be an important but challenging anti-inflammatory target, and we have achieved broad and stable intellectual property for this program, our third with a truly world-renowned industry. I’m proud to have led to an important contract.Leader,” he added.
