Bayer and MOMA Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new generation of precision therapeutics, have announced a collaboration through an option and exclusive license agreement. This partnership aims to develop and commercialize a small molecule oncology program based on MOMA’s proprietary KNOMATIC™ platform. As part of the agreement, Bayer will handle further preclinical, development, and commercial activities.
“We are excited to partner with MOMA Therapeutics to explore the untapped potential of highly dynamic proteins in oncology,” stated Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “This collaboration underscores Bayer’s commitment to precision medicine and enhances our ability to address significant unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. By leveraging MOMA’s cutting-edge technologies alongside our expertise, we aim to expedite the development of innovative therapies that can significantly impact patients’ lives.”
As part of the agreement, Bayer will gain access to the program and the results generated through MOMA’s KNOMATIC™ platform. This platform combines deep structural insights with advanced hit-finding technologies and computational lead optimization to accelerate the discovery of therapeutics that effectively target highly dynamic proteins. These dynamic proteins represent a new class of therapeutic targets that are critical in disease progression, and targeting them through a small molecule approach offers a largely unexplored pathway for developing innovative cancer treatments.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bayer to target this disease-relevant protein,” said Asit Parikh, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of MOMA. “Following our recent announcement regarding the advancement of our wholly owned Pol theta and Werner programs, Bayer’s interest in this collaboration highlights the effectiveness of our KNOMATIC™ platform and MOMA’s commitment to forging mutually beneficial partnerships.”
Under the terms of the agreement, MOMA will receive an upfront payment and collaboration fee and will be eligible for additional payments based on the achievement of certain near-term discovery, development, and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.
