Bayer, Dewpoint ink USD 424 million deal to develop breakthrough therapy for genetic heart disease

Berlin: Bayer has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Dewpoint Therapeutics, Inc. for a heart disease program targeting patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who have specific genetic mutations. This marks the first option exercise under the research collaboration established between Bayer and Dewpoint in November 2019.

The partnership combines Dewpoint’s unique biomolecular condensate platform with Bayer’s expertise in small molecule R&D to develop innovative treatments for cardiovascular and renal diseases.

“One of the biggest challenges in drug discovery lies in tackling the undruggable human proteome,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division.

“The emerging paradigm of biomolecular condensates is expanding the traditional drug target space for small molecules by unveiling new targets and new approaches to previously intractable targets. We are excited to be part of this new wave of innovation together with Dewpoint Therapeutics as it is our ambition to provide transformative medicines to cardiovascular patients with the highest unmet needs” the company said in a statement.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease where the ventricles enlarge and struggle to pump blood effectively. The licensed program focuses on an innovative method to address a specific form of DCM linked to mutations that lead to the formation of disease-associated condensates. This form of DCM is a severe condition with significant unmet medical needs, characterized by early onset heart failure and frequent life-threatening arrhythmias.

“We are excited about the novel discoveries made possible by our collaboration with Bayer, which have immense potential to transform the treatment of DCM,” said Ameet Nathwani, CEO of Dewpoint Therapeutics.

“The licensing of the first discovery program underscores the scientific validation of our proprietary condensate-based approach, which identifies and targets the underlying condensate drivers of complex diseases. The pre-clinical findings in this program suggest that a condensate-modifying small molecule can reverse the fundamental disease process. We are delighted that Bayer has exercised its option to license this exciting program which will further strengthen our ongoing collaboration to explore innovative treatments for cardiovascular and renal diseases.”

Dewpoint Therapeutics will receive an upfront and additional development and commercial milestone payments amounting to an estimated USD424 million, excluding royalties. The ongoing collaboration follows Bayer's participation in Dewpoint's January 2019 Series A financing round through Leaps by Bayer, the strategic investment unit of Bayer.

Dewpoint is the biotech company in the application of biomolecular condensate biology towards the development of a new generation of therapeutics to address diseases of high unmet need. The realization that a vast range of conditions are regulated by or arise from the dysfunction of condensates has provided new possibilities for modulating the function of high-value targets previously deemed ‘undruggable,’ opening unexplored avenues to identify hundreds of novel therapeutic targets.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses.