US drugmaker Janssen Pharmaceuticals has entered into a collaboration with Japanese biopharma PeptiDream. The deal, which gives Janssen access to PeptiDream’s peptide discovery platform system (PDPS), could be worth up to $1.15 billion for the Tokyo-based company.

The proprietary technology will be used to identify macrocyclic/constrained peptides against multiple metabolic and cardiovascular targets chosen by Janssen, which will then be optimized into therapeutic peptides or small molecule products. The US group also has an option on peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) use and applications.

Janssen has the rights to develop and commercialize all compounds resulting from the partnership. In return, PeptiDream will receive an upfront undisclosed sum, research funding and various milestone payments that could potentially total up to $1.15 billion.  It is also eligible to receive royalties on sales of any products that make it to market.

PeptiDream’s CEO and president, Kiichi Kubota, said the company has greatly expanded its capabilities over the past few years and looks forward to working with Janssen to discover and develop the next generation of first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutics.

Over the past seven years, PeptiDream has established a long list of discovery collaborations with several major pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Sanofi.