Isis Pharmaceuticals, based in Carlsbad, Calif., has entered into a global collaboration with Janssen Biotech to discover and develop antisense drugs to treat autoimmune disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The collaboration brings together Isis' RNA-targeted technology platform and the expertise of Janssen in autoimmune disorders and therapeutic formulation to discover and develop antisense drugs that can be locally administered, including oral delivery, to treat autoimmune disorders in the GI tract.

“This collaboration broadens the utility of our drug discovery technology to new targets in the GI tract and expands the administration of antisense drugs to local delivery, including oral delivery, to the gut," said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis Pharmaceuticals. "This partnering strategy ensures that we have access to resources that support and enhance our drug discovery efforts and also provides us with collaborators, like Janssen, who are uniquely capable of conducting development, marketing and commercial efforts for these drugs."

Under the terms of the agreement, which covers three programs, Isis will receive $35 million in upfront payments, including a payment to initiate human lead optimization on the first collaboration target. Isis is eligible to receive nearly $800 million in development, regulatory and sales milestone payments and license fees for these programs. In addition, Isis will receive tiered royalties that on average are double-digits on sales from any product that is successfully commercialized. Janssen has the option to license a drug from each of the programs once a development candidate is identified. If Janssen exercises its option, it will assume global development, regulatory and commercialization responsibilities.