Takeda, Ovid to co-develop TAK-935 for paediatric epilepsies

Takeda and Ovid Therapeutics on Wednesday announced a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise the Japanese company's experimental selective CH24H inhibitor TAK-935 for the treatment of rare paediatric epilepsies. Emiliangelo Ratti, Takeda's head of the central nervous system therapeutic area, remarked "Ovid's agility, exclusive focus on developing therapies for rare neurological diseases and specialised capabilities in central nervous system drug development are highly differentiated and well suited to this important programme." 

Under the agreed terms, the drugmakers will equally share in development and commercialisation costs associated with TAK-935, as well as equally split profits if the drug is eventually approved for use. Takeda will head commercialisation of the therapy in Japan and has the option to do so in Asia and certain other areas, while Ovid will be responsible for clinical development activities and commercialisation of TAK-935 in the US, Europe, Canada and Israel. 

Meanwhile, Takeda received an undisclosed equity stake in Ovid under the agreement, and is also eligible for milestone payments linked to the development of TAK-935. Additional financial terms of the deal were not released. 

According to Takeda and Ovid, all activities concerning the development of TAK-935 will be directed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers drawn from both companies in charge of advancing the therapy across rare epilepsy syndromes. Specifically, the drugmakers intend to initiate a Phase Ib/IIa study of TAK-935 this year in patients with rare epileptic encephalopathies, including Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. They added that other orphan central nervous system indications may also be pursued. 

The news follows Takeda's agreement to acquire Ariad Pharmaceuticals for about $5.2 billion earlier this month. Takeda has also recently entered into separate deals with PvP Biologics to develop the investigational Celiac disease therapy KumaMax and with Maverick Therapeutics to advance T-cell engagement therapies.