A biotech company founded in Trinity College Dublin has signed a deal with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to develop and market treatments based on toll-like receptor technology.
The collaboration between Opsona Therapeutics and Wyeth will focus on finding new treatments to fight autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are used to improve immunity by stimulating cells to create antibodies.
The technology was developed at Trinity by Prof Luke O'Neill through funding received by Science Foundation Ireland. "Targeting TLRs with new drug candidates has tremendous potential as a new approach to treat such diseases," he said.
Opsona will receive an upfront payment and will receive research and development funding and royalties on potential product sales.
Opsona also has the option to develop drugs derived from the collaboration for the treatment of topical indications.