Nestlé Health Science, Team to Accelerate Enzyme Innovation
Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) is now partnering up with Codexis, a leading protein engineering company. The strategic collaboration encompasses multiple projects accessing Codexis’ CodeEvolver protein engineering platform.
The collaboration includes an option for the global development of Codexis’ novel, orally delivered, enzyme, CDX-6114, for the management of phenylketonuria (PKU), an orphan metabolic disorder. In addition, Nestlé Health Science has secured strategic access to the CodeEvolver protein engineering platform for the discovery of biotherapeutics for other metabolic disorders, and for the development of novel enzyme products for Nestlé Health Science’s Medical Nutrition and Consumer Care business areas.
Under the terms of the option agreement, Nestlé Health Science will make an upfront payment of $14 million. Codexis will be eligible to receive clinical development, approval and commercial milestone payments related to CDX-6114 as well as tiered royalties on product sales. Codexis will be responsible for the clinical development costs for CDX-6114 up to and including phase 1 in healthy volunteers.
Thereafter, Nestlé Health Science will have an option to obtain an exclusive global license to CDX-6114 and will be responsible for all future development and commercialization. Beyond CDX-6114, Nestlé Health Science secures a right of first negotiation over enzyme therapies for
inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, which Codexis has in its pipeline or may discover over the next five years.“This transaction validates our CodeEvolver protein engineering platform technology as a biotherapeutic discovery engine, and also highlights our ability to establish customized partnerships for unlocking the power of proteins with a growing list of the world’s great companies,” said John Nicols, Codexis President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Enzymes are key to healthy functioning. When enzymes are not present or not working properly there can be an impairment of a wide range of processes critical for human health,” commented Greg Behar, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Health Science.
“The partnership with Codexis strengthens our footprint in the enzyme field, a fast developing part of the nutritional therapy innovation frontier that is changing the way we manage our health.”
