The recent milestone payment was triggered by J&JPRD’s selection of a compound targeting the Cathepsin S enzyme as a development candidate. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Sunesis has the potential to receive additional development milestone payments from J&JPRD, as well as royalty payments based on future product sales.
Bob McDowell, vice president of research of Sunesis, said: “We believe that a small molecule inhibitor of Cathepsin S will provide a useful approach to treating certain inflammatory conditions and we are pleased by J&JPRD’s advancement of a compound from our collaboration into development.”