Sosei Group assigns its SD281 drug discovery programme to Biocopea

Sosei Group Corporation ("Sosei"; TSE Mothers Index: 4565), a biopharmaceutical company, today announces the assignment of the drug discovery programme, SD281 and its analogues, to Biocopea Limited, a UK biotechnology company and subsidiary of PepTcell Limited. These compounds, based on a metabolite of a well-known drug, were shown by Sosei to have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. Sosei had positioned the compounds for intervention in inflammatory diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Biocopea intends to develop the portfolio of compounds further using its specialized chemical design, specific disease models and immunology expertise.

The deal means that a promising class of new chemical entities with a long remaining patent life can be taken forward by a partner committed to the development of new therapies for a variety of immune diseases. Under the terms of the assignment, Sosei will receive payments when the compounds are commercialized by Biocopea or its partners.