Sosei Heptares and AbbVie Announce New Discovery Collaboration Targeting Inflammatory Diseases

• Collaboration leverages unique StaR® technology and SBDD platform for discovering novel medicines that modulate GPCRs
• Primary focus on novel small molecules targeting inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

Tokyo, Japan and London, UK, 25 June 2020 – Sosei Group Corporation (“the Company”; TSE: 4565) announces that it has entered into an exclusive discovery collaboration and option-to-license agreement with AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, to discover, develop and commercialize novel medicines that modulate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets of interest to AbbVie. The collaboration will initially focus on discovery of novel small molecules targeting inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Malcolm Weir, Executive Vice Chairman of Sosei Heptares, said: “We are delighted to begin this new partnership with AbbVie, which further extends the application of our technology to novel and exciting targets, and we look forward building a close working relationship as the programs advance. Collaborating with leading pharmaceutical companies is a core element of our successful value-generating strategy. The ability to combine our unique technology and structure-based discovery and early development capabilities, particularly around challenging drug targets, with AbbVie’s extensive therapeutic area, development and global commercialization expertise is a powerful approach to creating new improved therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”

Dr. Lisa Olson, Vice President, Discover Immunology, AbbVie, said: “Continued innovation across Immunology remains a key AbbVie priority. Combining AbbVie’s more than two decades of expertise in Immunology with researchers developing cutting-edge technologies best positions us to offer patients new hope for advanced, next-generation treatment for autoimmune diseases.”

Sosei Heptares will apply its proprietary StaR® technology and GPCR-focused Structure-based Drug Design (SBDD) capabilities and fund R&D activities through the completion of Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies. AbbVie may then pay license fees to exercise its exclusive license options and assume responsibility for global development and commercialization.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sosei Heptares is eligible to receive up to US$32 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments, as well as potential option, development and commercial milestones of up to $377 million, plus tiered royalties on global commercial sales.

AbbVie has the option to expand the collaboration up to a total of four targets.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Sosei Heptares

We are an international biopharmaceutical group focused on the discovery and early development of new medicines originating from our proprietary GPCR-targeted StaR® technology and structure-based drug design platform capabilities. We are advancing a broad and deep pipeline of novel medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, immuno-oncology, gastroenterology, inflammation, and other rare/specialty indications.

We have established partnerships with some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Genentech (Roche), Novartis, Pfizer and Takeda, and additionally with multiple emerging biotechnology companies. Sosei Heptares is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with R&D facilities in Cambridge, UK.

“Sosei Heptares” is the corporate brand and trademark of Sosei Group Corporation, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). Sosei, Heptares, the logo and StaR® are trademarks of Sosei Group companies.

For more information, please visit https://www.soseiheptares.com/

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