Neurocrine and Jnana Enter Strategic Collaboration to Discover Novel Medicines

Neurocrine Biosciences and Jnana Therapeutics announced that they have entered into a research collaboration aimed at discovering novel small molecule therapeutics for multiple targets for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The collaboration will leverage Jnana’s proprietary drug discovery platform across the solute carrier (SLC) family of transporters and Neurocrine’s research and development expertise in CNS disorders to advance new medicines.

Under the terms of the agreement, Neurocrine and Jnana will work jointly to identify novel compounds, after which time Neurocrine will be responsible for further lead optimization, and the development and commercialization of any potential therapies arising from the collaboration. Neurocrine will also provide Jnana with one-time access to a subset of its compound library for Jnana to screen for hits on a select number of non-CNS targets. As part of the collaboration, Jnana will receive an up-front payment and committed research funding to support discovery efforts. In addition, Jnana is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties based upon products resulting from this collaboration.

“We are excited to partner with Jnana Therapeutics as their proprietary drug discovery platform complements our commitment to neuroscience innovation,” said Dimitri E. Grigoriadis, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer. “At Neurocrine, we have extensive experience in developing new medicines targeted to the solute carrier family of transporters, such as VMAT2, which led to the discovery of valbenazine. We look forward to working with Jnana to discover important new medicines for patients with central nervous system disorders.”

“We are very pleased to be entering into this strategic collaboration with Neurocrine Biosciences. Their deep knowledge in neuroscience and of the solute carrier family of transporters makes them an ideal partner as we work together to discover new medicines to treat CNS disorders,” said Joel Barrish, Ph.D., Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer at Jnana. “This collaboration also demonstrates Neurocrine’s confidence in Jnana’s proprietary small molecule platform to address therapeutic targets rapidly and comprehensively across the SLC transporter family.”