Servier and Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM), a subsidiary of Oncodesign (ALONC - FR0011766229) announced that Servier has exercised its exclusive license option for their drug candidate, an inhibitor of the LRRK2 (Leucine-Rich-Repeat Kinase 2) kinase target. In March 2019, Servier and Oncodesign started a research and development collaboration on LRRK2 kinase inhibitors, from the OPM's Nanocyclix(R) platform, as potential therapeutic agents for Parkinson's disease. This collaboration is based on the complementary expertise of Servier and OPM in neurodegenerative diseases and kinase inhibitors.

In June 2021, the two companies announced the selection of a preclinical drug candidate. Servier expects to start a "Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers" before the end of 2022. The exercise of the option triggers a EUR7 million milestone payment by Servier to OPM.

In total, Servier could pay OPM up to EUR320 million in R&D, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus potential royalties on future sales. This drug candidate is the first molecule from Nanocyclix(R) technology to enter the clinic for therapeutic evaluation. LRRK2 is a well-known kinase in the pharmaceutical field since 2005.

This kinase has proven to be very difficult to target with inhibitors but has the potential to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. This would be a major progress for patients suffering from this disease, for which only symptomatic treatments currently exist.