Intercept Signs Diabetes Drug Development Deal with Servier

Intercept Pharmaceuticals and Les Laboratoires Servier announced that they have signed an agreement for the discovery and development of novel TGR5 agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Biotechnology company Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. could receive up to $163 million from France-based Les Laboratoires Servier as part of a worldwide (excluding the U.S. and Japan) agreement for the discovery and development of TGR5 (GPR131) agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic indications.

The partnership will exploit Intercept’s drug discovery platform, which is based on bile acid analog chemistry, and expertise in targeting TGR5 and other bile receptors.

The firms will jointly support the discovery phase, with Servier shouldering responsibility for all costs associated with global development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of any products selected for development. Intercept retains all rights to products in th