Dr. Reddy’s, Argenta Collaborate on COPD Treatment

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Argenta Discovery Ltd. have entered into an agreement for the joint development and commercialization of a novel approach to the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Under the terms of the agreement, Dr. Reddy’s and Argenta will collaborate to identify clinical candidates from a certain class of Dr. Reddy’s compounds for use as potential treatments for COPD. Both the parties will jointly develop the selected candidates from the preclinical stage to Phase IIa. Upon successful completion of a Phase IIa trial, the companies may either license-out the candidate for further development and commercialization to a larger pharma company or continue the further co-development and commercialization. The two companies have agreed to fund the joint collaboration to proof-of-concept. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

GV Prasad, chief executive officer, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, said, “We are excited about the R&D collaboration with Argenta as it provides us with an opportunity to leverage our drug discovery capabilities to target unmet medical needs in the respiratory therapeutic area. Argenta brings the significant respiratory drug development expertise required to pursue a novel approach for the treatment of COPD, asthma and cystic fibrosis. We are looking forward to a successful relationship with them.”

Dr. Chris Ashton, chief executive officer, Argenta Discovery, added, “We are delighted to be working with Dr Reddy’s, which is establishing a growing reputation within the global pharmaceutical industry. We are proud that Argenta’s expertise and experience in drug development and respiratory disease has been recognized by Dr Reddy’s and we look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.”