Japanese firm Sosei Group Corporation has announced that it has entered into a global collaboration and license agreement with Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.

Under the agreement, Biohaven will receive exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise a portfolio of novel, small-molecule CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) receptor antagonists discovered by Sosei Heptares for the treatment of CGRP-mediated disorders. The portfolio includes the lead candidate HTL0022562, which has advanced through preclinical development demonstrating promising and differentiated properties for further investigation in human trials.

In return, Sosei Heptares will receive an upfront payment of $10 million in the form of cash consideration and Biohaven common shares, research funding, and is eligible to receive additional development, regulatory and commercialisation milestone payments of up to $370 million. In addition, Sosei Heptares will be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.

Vlad Coric, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Biohaven, said, "We are excited to enter into this agreement with Sosei Heptares, a world leader in GPCR (G protein-coupled receptors) drug discovery. Biohaven launched NURTECä ODT (rimegepant), our lead CGRP receptor antagonist oral small molecule for the acute treatment of migraine in March of this year in the US, and have submitted an sNDA for the preventive treatment of migraine with an expected PDUFA in the second quarter of 2021. In addition, we have advanced zavegepant, our intra-nasal CGRP receptor antagonist, successfully through its first pivotal trial, also for the acute treatment of migraine. We are now committed to pursuing other CGRP-mediated diseases through advancing novel investigational agents such as HTL0022562 into human studies.”

Shinichi Tamura, Chairman, President and CEO, Sosei Heptares, commented, "We are delighted to enter this collaboration and license agreement with Biohaven for our portfolio of novel CGRP receptor antagonists. HTL0022562 has already advanced successfully through a rigorous preclinical programme and we are confident that the CGRP expertise and resources Biohaven brings will enable the further development of this and other promising CGRP antagonist candidates into human clinical trials.”