Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Theravance Biopharma Inc. recently entered a global license, development and commercialization agreement for TD-8954, a potential treatment for gastrointestinal motility disorders like enteral feeding intolerance (EFI).
“The addition of TD-8954 to our portfolio highlights Takeda’s commitment to the development of treatments to improve the health of patients with gastroenterological disorders,” Takeda Gastroenterology Therapeutic Area Unit Head Asit Parikh said. “As a leader in gastroenterology, Takeda has a history of bringing innovative treatments to patients where there is significant unmet need. We believe that TD-8954 has the potential to deliver therapeutic benefit to patients with gastrointestinal motility disorders, including EFI. Today EFI impacts approximately one million Americans -- and there are currently no FDA-approved treatment options available.”
Through the partnership, Takeda will pay Theravance $15 million upfront, with additional development and sales milestones in the future and royalties on Takeda’s net worldwide sales.
“Our single-dose study of TD-8954 in critically ill patients with EFI provided early confidence in the potential for TD-8954 to improve gastric emptying time,” Theravance Biopharma Chairman and CEO Rick Winningham said. “This is important as delayed gastric emptying makes it more difficult to feed patients in the ICU, slowing their recovery time, extending their stay in the ICU and increasing the risk of ICU-related complications. Takeda is an industry leader in the development of treatments for gastrointestinal disorders, which we believe makes the company an ideal partner to drive the continued advancement of TD-8954.”
