Takeda Takes Nimbus Lakshmi for $4 Billion
Japanese pharma Takeda is acquiring Nimbus Lakshmi, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US clinical-stage drug discovery company Nimbus Therapeutics, and its tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor NDI-034858, which is undergoing trials for treating multiple autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis.
Under the terms of the deal, Takeda will pay Nimbus $4 billion upfront, as well as two milestone payments of $1 billion each upon achieving annual net sales of $4 billion and $5 billion. Takeda will be solely responsible for further development and commercialization of NDI-034858 and other TYK2 inhibitors.
“Adding this TYK2 inhibitor to our late-stage pipeline gives Takeda an exciting program that has the potential to significantly expand our portfolio and patient impact, while enhancing our growth strategy beyond Entyvio,” said Christophe Weber, Takeda’s president and CEO. First launched in 2014, Entyvio is a biologic therapy for adults with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Last month, Nimbus disclosed positive topline results from a Phase 2b study assessing NDI-034858 in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The investigational therapy is expected to enter Phase 3 trials next year; it is also in an ongoing Phase 2B study in active psoriatic arthritis.
Takeda said it plans to also investigate NDI-034858 for treating inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases once the transaction has closed, which is anticipated in the first half of 2023. The Osaka-based group will then rename the TYK inhibitor as TAK-279.
Nimbus CEO Jeb Keiper said his company will continue to advance other target programs in its R&D pipeline, including its selective hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) inhibitor, a novel immuno-oncology agent that is currently in a Phase 1/2 study in patients with solid tumors.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
