Sosei Group acquired Heptares Therapeutics, which focuses on creating novel medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The Japanese firm took over 100% of Heptares’ share capital for $180 million in cash and up to $220 million contingent upon the successful progression of the company’s pipeline and platform. Heptares will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the group, with its existing R&D operations continuing in the U.K.
Sosei has been exploring strategic opportunities that can both build on and go beyond the secured revenue stream in milestones and royalties derived from the two COPD products (Ultibro® Breezhaler® and Seebri® Breezhaler®) marketed by its partner Novartis. The acquisition of Heptares, with its clinical and preclinical pipeline of potentially transformative new medicines targeting serious diseases with major unmet need (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, metabolic disease, schizophrenia, migraine, and others), and its StaR® drug discovery platform, significantly fulfills this goal and further represents a major step towards the group’s strategic vision of becoming a significant global biopharmaceutical company arising from Japan, according to Sosei officals.
In addition to its pipeline and platform, Heptares has established collaborative partnerships with a number of pharmaceutical companies that provide the company with a prospective stream of revenue through milestones and royalties. Consolidation of these revenues will make a significant contribution to the group’s financial position, notes a Sosei spokesperson, adding that the combined entity expects continued strong growth driven by revenues from new clinical-stage alliances and platform partnerships.