Japan-based Sosei Group Corporation has entered a drug discovery collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, to discover, develop and commercialise small molecules that modulate novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets associated with diabetes and metabolic diseases.

This new agreement will leverage Sosei Heptares’ StaR technology and structure-based drug design (SBDD) platform and Lilly’s extensive drug development and commercialisation expertise as well as its therapeutic area expertise in diabetes and metabolic diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sosei Heptares will focus its efforts on multiple GPCR targets nominated by Lilly to deliver novel target-selective small molecule hit candidates for further development and commercialisation.

Sosei Heptares receives an upfront payment of $37 million on signing and is eligible to receive development and commercial milestones totalling up to $694 million, plus tiered royalties on global sales.

Matt Barnes, Ph.D. Head of UK Research & Development, Sosei Heptares said: “This new agreement with Lilly further reinforces our position as a global partner of choice for GPCR-focused drug discovery targeting major diseases where patients remain in need of new and effective therapies."