Hybrigenics and Servier have signed a license and research collaboration agreement in the field of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) applied to oncology, neurology, psychiatry, rheumatology, ophthalmology, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Hybrigenics will identify and validate new targets among DUBs in these therapeutic areas. Hybrigenics will also screen potential therapeutic agents able to modulate four undisclosed targets, already chosen as exclusive DUBs of interest under the collaboration. Servier will provide the compounds to be screened, develop the selected compounds and commercialize the approved drugs. Hybrigenics’ activities under this collaboration may also lead to the discovery of companion diagnostics, potentially needed for such therapeutic drugs.

During the three years of collaboration, Hybrigenics will receive an upfront payment and research funding totaling EUR four million. Depending on the achievement of pre-defined research, development and registration milestones, Hybrigenics is further eligible to receive payments amounting to EUR 9.5 million for each target successfully leading to registration of a new drug, and to royalties on sales of companion diagnostic kits.

“The inhibition of DUBs is a very innovative approach to stimulate the degradation of specific intra-cellular proteins, with a clear potential impact in treating cancer and possibly many other diseases. We are very pleased to initiate such collaboration with Hybrigenics, one of the world pioneers in this domain,” said Bernard Marchand, PhD, head of Servier Research.