BridGene and Galapagos Expand Collaboration for Oral SMARCA2 PROTAC in Precision Oncology

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 1, 2024 - BridGene Biosciences, a leading company in the discovery of small molecule drugs targeting challenging medical conditions, has announced an extension to its strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Galapagos NV. This partnership, initially established in January 2024, aims to discover a highly selective oral SMARCA2 proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC).

The expanded agreement will see BridGene utilizing its PROTAC discovery engine in conjunction with Galapagos' expertise in selective ATPase small molecules. The goal is to advance the molecule to a preclinical candidate stage, with Galapagos retaining exclusive rights for further development and commercialization. As part of the deal, Galapagos will provide BridGene with upfront and preclinical milestone payments, as well as additional payments contingent on clinical and commercial milestones, potentially totaling $159 million. In addition, BridGene will be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.

CEO and Co-Founder of BridGene Biosciences, Dr. Ping Cao, expressed enthusiasm about the deepened collaboration with Galapagos, highlighting the significant alignment of scientific expertise between the two companies. This partnership is expected to bolster BridGene's track record in identifying drugs for difficult targets, enhancing the probability of success through the integration of their innovative discovery platform with Galapagos' extensive scientific and clinical knowledge.

Pierre Raboisson, Senior Vice President and Head of Small Molecules Discovery at Galapagos, echoed Dr. Cao's sentiment, emphasizing the strong reputation of BridGene in discovering small molecule drugs for hard-to-drug targets. The expanded collaboration capitalizes on the unique strengths of both companies, combining Galapagos' in-house expertise and technological platforms with BridGene's cutting-edge PROTAC discovery engine. The ultimate goal is to develop precision medicines for cancer patients with unmet needs.

This collaboration underscores the validation of BridGene's innovative approach through strategic partnerships, emphasizing the importance of alliances in advancing drug development efforts. Both companies are dedicated to improving patient outcomes by developing potential best-in-class precision medicines that address challenging cancer targets, with a focus on high unmet medical needs through targeted protein degradation technology.

BridGene Biosciences is a biotechnology firm committed to discovering and developing innovative small molecules to treat traditionally undruggable targets. Utilizing its proprietary chemoproteomic platform, IMTAC™, BridGene can screen small molecules against all proteins in live cells, aiming to identify drug candidates for high-value and previously undruggable targets. The company is advancing a diversified pipeline of first-in-class drugs for multiple disease areas.

Galapagos NV is a biotechnology company with operations in Europe and the U.S., focused on developing transformational medicines that improve both longevity and quality of life. By addressing high unmet medical needs, Galapagos combines compelling science, technology, and collaborative approaches to create a deep pipeline of best-in-class small molecules, cell therapies, and biologics in oncology and immunology. The company's capabilities span from lab research to patient care, including a decentralized cell therapy manufacturing network, aimed at delivering significant results for patients, employees, and shareholders.

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