Takeda’s to Develop Theravance’s EFI Candidate TD-8954: A global license, development, and commercialization agreement

Takeda Pharmaceutical will develop Theravance Biopharma’s Phase II drug candidate for gastrointestinal motility disorders, including enteral feeding intolerance (EFI).

Takeda has got global license, development, and commercialization agreement for TD-8954, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist. TD-8954 is being developed for short-term use with EFI to achieve early nutritional adequacy in critically ill patients at high nutritional risk. The compound has received the FDA’s Fast Track Designation in that indication.

Takeda’s therapeutic areas include gastrointestinal as well as “general medicine,” including oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic, central nervous system, respiratory, and immunology, and vaccines.

Takeda has agreed to pay Theravance $15 million cash upfront, plus payments tied to achieving development and sales milestones—of which the first $110 million would be associated with development, regulatory, and commercial launch milestones for EFI or other intravenously dosed indications.

In addition, Takeda agreed to pay Theravance double-digit royalties on worldwide net sales.