Through the collaboration, Centocor will support the discovery research and preclinical development by Catalyst of Alterase drug candidates against two targets, one of which is in inflammatory disease, with an option to expand the agreement to include a third target.
Catalyst Biosciences will receive an upfront payment of $11 million, comprised of cash and an equity investment by Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC), and will receive research funding for two years. Centocor will be responsible for all development, manufacturing, and commercialization efforts associated with the Alterase products discovered through the collaboration in exchange for future milestones and royalties.
In conjunction with the equity investment and the signing of the agreement, Asish Xavier, of JJDC will join the Catalyst Biosciences board of directors.
Nassim Usman, CEO of Catalyst Biosciences, said: “We are very pleased to collaborate with Centocor, a developer of biologic therapies, to employ our Alterase drug discovery engine against high-value targets.”