Novo Nordisk and Orbis Medicines have entered a collaboration and license agreement to discover and develop oral macrocycle drug candidates for cardiometabolic diseases.
Under the agreement, Orbis is eligible to receive up to $1.4 billion in upfront and potential development and commercial milestone payments. Orbis could also receive tiered royalties on future product sales.
Novo will make a strategic investment in Orbis, the companies said. They did not disclose the size of the upfront payment, the investment amount, the number of targets covered by the agreement or the potential value of individual development and commercial milestones.
The collaboration will focus on orally bioavailable macrocycle candidates for cardiometabolic targets.
Orbis will contribute its nGen platform, which combines generative artificial intelligence with high-throughput synthesis capabilities. The company said the platform uses an optimization engine to design macrocycles and incorporates data generated through its chemistry and screening operations.
Macrocycles are large ring-shaped molecules. Orbis said its platform is intended to address oral bioavailability and drug-like property challenges associated with macrocycles.
Novo will work with Orbis on discovery and development activities under the collaboration. The companies did not identify specific drug candidates, therapeutic targets, clinical programs or development timelines.
The agreement includes a license arrangement, but the companies did not provide details on product rights, geographic territories, responsibility for clinical development, manufacturing, commercialization or regulatory activities.
Orbis is based in Copenhagen and focuses on oral macrocycle drug discovery.
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