OMass Therapeutics (‘OMass’ or ‘the Company’), a biotechnology firm focused on discovering medicines for well-validated target ecosystems such as membrane proteins and intracellular complexes, today announced an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Under this agreement, Genentech will gain the rights to develop and commercialize OMass’ preclinical oral small-molecule program for inflammatory bowel disease.
“Using our OdyssIONTM platform, we’ve been able to make significant progress on this novel first-in-class target with a differentiated mechanism of action in inflammatory bowel disease,” said Ros Deegan, CEO of OMass Therapeutics. “Genentech brings a strong legacy of innovation in immunology and world class scientific expertise, making them an ideal partner for this program. We are delighted to be partnering with them and build on the progress we have made to date.”
"There are nearly eight million people living with IBD who are in need of innovative treatment approaches," said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development. "Despite recent advancements, there is still a high unmet medical need which fuels our commitment to partnering with companies such as OMass Therapeutics focused on innovation to accelerate potentially transformative medicines and advance science."
As part of the agreement, OMass will receive an upfront payment of $20 million, along with potential milestone payments exceeding $400 million across preclinical, development, commercial, and net sales stages. The company will also be eligible for tiered royalties on future net sales. Under the collaboration, OMass will oversee initial preclinical development through candidate selection, after which Genentech will assume responsibility for clinical development, regulatory submissions, manufacturing, and commercialization.