BridGene and Galapagos Forge Strategic Collaboration to Develop Novel Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting Undruggable Oncology Targets

On January 4, 2024, BridGene Biosciences, Inc., a leader in small-molecule drug discovery for traditionally “undruggable” targets, announced today that it has entered into a strategic collaboration and license agreement with Galapagos NV (Euronext & Nasdaq: GLPG). Under the terms of the agreement, BridGene will leverage its chemical proteomics platform, IMTAC™, to discover novel small-molecule drug candidates targeting the collaborative targets. The parties will jointly advance these molecules to clinical candidate status, with Galapagos holding exclusive rights for development and commercialization.

This preclinical research collaboration will focus on oncology targets designated by Galapagos. Galapagos will pay BridGene up to $27 million in upfront and preclinical milestone payments, as well as over $700 million in clinical and commercial milestone payments. BridGene is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on the net sales of each product resulting from the collaboration.

Dr. Pierre Raboisson, Senior Vice President and Head of Small Molecule Drug Discovery at Galapagosstated: “BridGene’s expertise in discovering small-molecule drugs targeting ‘undruggable’ targets makes them an ideal partner for pioneering new avenues in oncology drug discovery. By combining BridGene’s innovative platform with our strong capabilities in drug discovery and clinical development, we aim to develop breakthrough cancer therapies. Our goal is to deliver transformative precision medicine for cancers that lack effective treatment options.”

Dr. Ping Cao, Co-Founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciencesstated: “We are delighted to collaborate with Galapagos to discover novel drugs targeting critical and ‘undruggable’ targets in oncology. The deep expertise of Galapagos in the field of oncology and BridGene’s proficiency in drug discovery will achieve a perfect synergy. This collaboration not only further demonstrates BridGene’s exceptional capabilities in developing drugs for ‘undruggable’ targets, but also represents an important step in the company’s long-term strategy. We aim to build a mutually beneficial partnership by combining our innovative discovery platform and specialized development capabilities for ‘undruggable’ targets with the extensive resources and capabilities of partners like Galapagos in science, clinical development, and commercialization, thereby significantly enhancing the success rate of drug development.”

BridGene is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative small-molecule drugs, focusing on targets traditionally considered “undruggable” to pave new pathways for treating various diseases. Leveraging its proprietary chemical proteomics platform, IMTAC™, BridGene can screen small-molecule interactions with all proteins in living cells, aiming to identify potential drug candidates against high-value yet “undruggable” targets. The company’s ultimate goal is to lead revolutionary discoveries in small-molecule drug development, expand therapeutic options, and overcome the limitations of small-molecule therapies, particularly by developing drugs for targets previously inaccessible to such approaches. BridGene is actively advancing multiple first-in-class drug programs targeting diverse disease areas.

Galapagos is a biotechnology company with extensive expertise in innovative drug discovery, development, and commercialization. The company is dedicated to developing medicines that address unmet medical needs worldwide, thereby improving patients’ quality of life. Galapagos’s R&D portfolio spans multiple modalities, including small-molecule drugs and cell therapies. Its pipeline, ranging from early-stage exploration to commercialization, covers several key therapeutic areas such as immunology and oncology. Galapagos’s first approved treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis have been launched in Europe and Japan.