Takeda enters autoimmune partnership with Resolve Therapeutics

Takeda has entered a partnership with Resolve Therapeutics to develop compounds for the treatment of lupus and a host of other autoimmune diseases.

RSLV-132 is the lead compound and will be put into clinical development later this year, whereas additional Resolve clinical candidates are now in the pre-clinical proof-of-concept stage.

These compounds target the degradation and elimination of autoantibody-containing immune complexes. It is also believed that they are the most proximal pathophysiological trigger of lupus.

Resolve is set to carry out all development work until the first RSLV-132 Phase 1b/21 trial in lupus patients.

Takeda has the option to license the lead compound and all other compounds from the Resolve platform. If the business chooses to do this, it will be given lead responsibility for the global development and commercialisation of Resolve products.

As part of the deal, Takeda will help to fund the prep work and continued development of RSLV-132 with an initial payment of $8 million (£5.3 million) to Resolve in fiscal 2012.

Tetsuyuki Maruyama, Ph.D., General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Research Division at Takeda, said: "This collaboration with Resolve is very exciting as its innovative pipeline of nuclease fusion proteins has the potential to provide a new approach to helping lupus patients."

James Posada, chief executive officer of Resolve, said: "We are delighted to begin work with our Takeda colleagues.

"We feel strongly that Takeda’s expertise, commitment to inflammation, and considerable resources will give the Resolve compounds the best possible chance of success."

It is hoped that the work will help to tackle the effects of Lupus, which can impact any part of the body.

It results in the immune system attacking the body's cells and tissue, leading to inflammation and tissue damage that can inflict damage on numerous areas of the body and nervous system.

The disease occurs nine times more often in women than men.

Posted by Ben Evans