Novo inks NLRP3 deal with Ventus Therapeutics

Novo Nordisk has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ventus Therapeutics to develop and commercialize candidates from Ventus’ portfolio of peripherally-restricted NLRP3 inhibitors.

Per the deal, Massachusetts-based Ventus will receive $70 million upfront, with potential additional milestones of up to $633 million, plus potential royalty payments and R&D funding. In exchange, Novo Nordisk will receive exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Ventus’ lead NLRP3 inhibitor program, VENT-01, for a broad range of diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic kidney disease and other cardiometabolic conditions.

Ventus will retain the rights to its VENT-02 program, through which it will continue to develop NLRP3 inhibitors for certain systemic diseases, including specific inflammatory and respiratory diseases. In addition, Ventus retains worldwide rights to the company’s distinct brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor program.

Both the VENT-01 and VENT-02 programs are still in IND-enabling studies.

With the deal, Novo will join some big names pursuing the NLRP3 space, including Roche and Novartis.