Phenex Pharmaceuticals, a privately held drug discovery and development company based in Germany, has entered into an agreement with Janssen Biotech and its affiliates to jointly discover compounds that target the nuclear hormone receptor RORγT and may have utility in the treatment of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Phenex will receive an upfront payment and milestone payments upon the achievement of specific development and regulatory events that could total as much as $135 million. In addition, Phenex will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties and milestones on the worldwide sales of products that arise from the collaboration.

Researchers from Phenex and Janssen will work collaboratively towards the goal of identifying compounds that are active against RORγT and optimized for preclinical development. Thereafter, Janssen will have sole responsibility for the continued development and worldwide commercialization of any compounds that arise from the collaboration.

"This collaboration represents a landmark deal for Phenex" said Dr. Claus Kremoser, CEO of Phenex. "It combines Phenex's nuclear receptor expertise, the accomplishments of its RORγT program and the immunology expertise of Janssen so that we will work together to discover new RORγT based treatments for autoimmune diseases. We hope that small molecule drugs that target RORγT will prove to be a safe, effective and affordable means to treat autoimmune disease, a marketplace within which there remains a need for differentiated therapies. "

Thomas Hoffmann, CFO of Phenex, said, "The upfront payment and near-term milestones that may be achieved through this collaboration are quite important for Phenex as the funds received will make it possible for us to both collaborate with Janssen on RORγT and continue the clinical development of our proprietary FXR program through the next few years. By way of this agreement Phenex will be able to fund its operations and does not expect to seek further equity financing."