Ipsen Grants Rhythm Exclusive Worldwide License for Two Programs in the Field of Metabolic Disorders

March 12, 2010— Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), a global biotechnology specialty care group, and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Rhythm), a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for metabolic diseases, announced that they have concluded a license agreement for Ipsen’s proprietary peptide therapeutics targeting obesity, metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen has granted Rhythm an exclusive worldwide license for research, development, and commercialization of its melanocortin and ghrelin programs originating from Ipsen research.


“The agreement with Rhythm is a clear catalyst for the development of proprietary molecules from Ipsen in promising indications within the area of metabolic diseases, which are outside of our core strategic focus... Rhythm Pharmaceuticals' Press Release - [PDF] Ipsen's Press Release -

Envoy Therapeutics : Diabetes and Obesity Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc.

January 26, 2010 - Envoy Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has entered into a multi-year research collaboration agreement with an affiliate of Merck & Co., Inc. to discover novel diabetes and obesity drug targets.

Under the agreement, Envoy will use its proprietary bacTRAP® technology to identify proteins expressed specifically in certain cell types. Merck will then work to identify and develop compounds that modulate protein targets with therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Merck will pay Envoy an upfront fee and research funding. In addition, Envoy is eligible to receive payments upon achievement of certain milestones associated with development of drug candidates and royalties on any products derived from the collaboration... [PDF] Envoy Therapeutics' Press Release - Merck's Press Release -