Galapagos Achieves Servier Milestones

Galapagos NV has achieved milestones under its osteoarthritis alliance with Servier, triggering milestone payments to Galapagos totaling $4.7 million.

In July 2010, the two companies entered an alliance to develop new medicines for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Galapagos is responsible for the discovery and development of new drug candidates, and Servier has an exclusive option to license them after the completion of Phase I trials.

“We are pleased that the molecules derived under the OA alliance have met the agreed criteria,” said Onno van de Stolpe, chief executive officer of Galapagos. “This achievement brings us closer to delivering a preclinical candidate.”

“This is in line with Servier’s commitment to develop disease-modifying drugs for sufferers of uncured diseases, such as OA, a debilitating disease that affects 12% of the world population, leading to severe and costly handicaps,” said Bernard Marchand, head of Discovery Research at Servier.