Sareum, SRI to jointly develop autoimmune, inflammatory disease therapeutics

The collaboration will focus on developing small molecule therapeutics targeting a janus kinase (JAK) family member, TYK2.

Sareum CEO Dr. Tim Mitchell said, "The agreement with SRI gives us access to world-class autoimmune disease biology and drug development expertise. It validates both our business model and the quality of our own research. We are delighted to be working with SRI."

According to the agreement, the discovery and development activities will be co-led by SRI Biosciences’ Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the option to further develop and commercialize the program will be retained by Sareum.

SRI’s Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases senior director Annalisa D’Andrea said, "Because of TYK2’s critical role in the signalling of inflammatory cytokines, there is strong scientific rationale for developing TYK2 inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, and Crohn’s Disease."

Image: Sareum and SRI will advance TYK2 small molecule drug discovery program for readiness in human clinical trials. Photo: SRI International.