BridGene and Takeda Partner to Discover Small Molecule Drugs for Immunology and Neurology

BridGene Biosciences, a prominent player in the field of small molecule drug discovery, has entered into a strategic partnership with Takeda to address targets in immunology and neurology that are traditionally considered difficult to drug. Announced on February 25, 2025, this collaboration leverages BridGene's innovative chemoproteomics platform, IMTAC™, to identify new drug candidates.

The agreement entails BridGene utilizing its IMTAC™ platform, which excels at identifying potential small molecule drugs for challenging targets. This platform employs a chemoproteomics-based approach to tackle targets that have previously been difficult to address with traditional methods. The collaboration includes multiple targets, and the partners plan to advance these projects from initial hit finding to early lead development. Takeda will have the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize any products that emerge from this collaboration.

Financially, BridGene stands to gain significantly from this partnership. The company will receive $46 million in combined upfront and potential preclinical milestone payments. Additionally, if all clinical and commercial milestones are achieved throughout the term of the agreement, BridGene could receive payments totaling approximately $770 million. Beyond these payments, BridGene is also eligible for tiered royalties on the net sales of any resulting products.

Ping Cao, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciences, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. "We are excited to continue our collaboration with Takeda in the discovery of novel therapeutics targeting challenging areas of immunology and neurology," he stated. He emphasized the potential of BridGene's IMTAC™ platform in uncovering groundbreaking therapies and its complementarity with Takeda’s clinical and commercial expertise.

From Takeda's perspective, this partnership aligns with their strategic goals. Christopher Arendt, Ph.D., Head of Research and Chief Scientific Officer at Takeda, highlighted the collaboration as a demonstration of Takeda's dedication to advancing patient care in neurology and immunology through pioneering science. He noted that combining BridGene's platform with Takeda's scientific capabilities offers the potential to unlock a broader spectrum of targets previously deemed undruggable, which aligns with Takeda’s focus on small molecule drug discovery.

BridGene Biosciences is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing innovative small molecules that target traditionally undruggable proteins, thereby opening new treatment avenues for various diseases. The company uses its proprietary IMTAC™ platform to screen small molecules across all proteins in live cells, aiming to discover drug candidates for high-value, previously undruggable targets. BridGene is building a diverse pipeline of first-in-class drugs targeting multiple disease areas.

This partnership with Takeda marks a significant step for BridGene in advancing its mission to bring innovative therapies to market. By collaborating with a company known for its robust clinical and commercial expertise, BridGene aims to maximize the therapeutic potential of its discoveries and address complex medical challenges in immunology and neurology. Through this collaboration, both companies are poised to make significant contributions to the field of small molecule drug discovery and, ultimately, to patient care worldwide.