Takeda Acquires Global License for Investigational Celiac Disease Therapy

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has announced in an Oct. 22, 2019 press release that it has acquired an exclusive global license from COUR Pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of an investigational celiac disease therapy.

CNP-101/TAK-101 is an investigational medicine based on COUR’s antigen specific immune tolerance platform. The therapy has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment that targets the aberrant immune response apparent in celiac disease. Takeda exercised its option to acquire the exclusive global license based on the positive Phase IIa proof-of-concept study, results of which were recently presented.

“While many people living with celiac disease can manage their symptoms by following a gluten free diet, there are currently no treatment options for those who continue to have symptoms,” said Asit Parikh, head, Gastroenterology Therapeutic Area Unit at Takeda, in the press release. “Our collaboration with COUR has shown, for the first time, that it is possible to induce specific immune tolerance to a foreign antigen in autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease. With our expertise in inflammatory diseases, Takeda is well positioned to further develop TAK-101 in pursuit of providing the first approved treatment option for patients with celiac disease.”

“We are encouraged by the data from this first human proof of concept study of our proprietary nanoparticle platform designed to reprogram the immune system,” added John J. Puisis, CEO of COUR Pharmaceuticals. “As Takeda assumes responsibility for the celiac disease program, COUR will focus on advancing our pipeline of therapies for a variety of other immune disorders ranging from multiple sclerosis to peanut allergy.”

Source: Takeda