Eisai, FORMA in Discovery Pact

Eisai Inc. has signed a strategic drug discovery collaboration agreement with FORMA Therapeutics. Eisai will have non-exclusive access to FORMA’s Diversity Oriented Synthesis (DOS) chemistry-generated compound library and cell-based screening platforms to support the discovery of novel compounds for Eisai’s pipeline. In addition, Eisai has an option for technology transfer of FORMA’s cell-based screening platform. FORMA will receive upfront payments and committed funding of $20 million over three years and is eligible to receive additional milestones plus royalties on future products that Eisai may commercialize as a result of this collaboration.

“FORMA’s unique drug discovery capabilities will enable Eisai to access diversified chemistry and drug discovery technologies to identify novel drug candidates for otherwise difficult targets,” said Kentaro Yoshimatsu, chief scientific officer, Eisai Product Creation Systems at Eisai Co., Ltd., the parent company of Eisai, Inc. “As part of our product creation strategy to increase access to external innovation, we believe this collaboration with FORMA will allow for synergistic capabilities that lead to the creation of breakthrough treatments to satisfy unmet medical needs.”