Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical has signed a contract with COUR Pharmaceutical Development to acquire an exclusive global license to develop and commercialise COUR's CNP-101 (TAK-101), an immune modifying nanoparticle that contains gliadin proteins that is being developed for the treatment of celiac disease, it was reported yesterday.

The deal is worth up to USD420m.

According to the contract, COUR Pharmaceutical Development will be eligible to receive the amount from the Japanese company in the form of future payments, and royalties on sales of any commercialised products emerging from the TAK-101 license. The investigational drug has been developed on COUR's antigen-specific immune tolerance platform. It targets the aberrant immune response in celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease in which the ingestion of gluten results in inflammation and damage in the small intestine.

Takeda plans to launch a dose-ranging trial to further investigate the potential of TAK-101 in patients with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet.