Presented by BioPharm Process Associates…

Concert Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have entered into a $1B research and development agreement for Concert’s deuterium-based compounds.

Concert gets $35M upfront, which includes a $16.7M equity investment, plus milestones and double-digit royalties. The deal gives GSK the rights to three of Concert’s early-stage programs: a protease inhibitor for HIV that will start Phase I trials this year, a preclinical drug for chronic kidney disease and a third unspecified product. Concert’s website does say it has a prostacyclin analog for pulmonary arterial hypertension, an HIV and HCV drug and a GABA modulator for pain in development so we assume the third product is one of these.

Deuterium is a stable, non-radioactive relative of hydrogen which provides for stronger carbon bonds. According to Concert’s website:

“This increased bond strength, in select cases of precisely modified molecules, can positively impact certain drugs’ absorption, distribution, metabolism and/or excretion (ADME) properties, creating the potential for improved drug efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Poor ADME properties limit the potential of many important currently-used medicines. They are also a major reason for compound failure in clinical trials.”

Congrats!

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