BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Bicycle, ThromboGenics in ophthalmic deal for bicyclic peptides

September 5, 2013 11:48 PM UTC

Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd. (Cambridge, U.K.) granted ThromboGenics N.V. (Euronext:THR) exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bicyclic peptide inhibitors from Bicycle against a target involved in ophthalmic diseases like diabetic macular edema (DME). The target is undisclosed but ThromboGenics said it is involved in vascular permeability. Bicycle and ThromboGenics will collaborate on preclinical development, and ThromboGenics will be responsible for subsequent development and commercialization of selected compounds. Bicycle will receive an undisclosed upfront fee and is eligible for undisclosed milestones, plus royalties.

Bicyclic peptides are created by linking chemically modified linear peptides to create a structure with two variable region peptide loops. The company said the peptides combine the selectivity and diversity of antibodies with the cheaper, chemistry-based manufacturing of small molecules (see BioCentury, Nov. 2, 2009). ...