Insilico Medicine and Hygtia Therapeutics have entered into an exclusive global license and co-development agreement to advance ISM8969, an investigational NLRP3 inhibitor designed for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The collaboration brings together Insilico’s generative artificial intelligence–driven drug discovery capabilities and Hygtia’s clinical development and commercialization expertise, with the goal of accelerating the program toward the clinic and, ultimately, patients worldwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Insilico grants Hygtia Therapeutics 50% worldwide rights to research, develop, register, manufacture, and commercialize ISM8969. The two companies will share global rights equally, reflecting a balanced partnership structure. Insilico is eligible to receive up to USD 66 million in upfront and milestone payments, including an initial USD 10 million upfront payment expected within 30 days of the agreement taking effect.
Responsibilities for development are clearly delineated between the partners. Insilico will lead the initial phase of clinical development, including submission of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application and execution of the Phase 1 clinical trial. The early clinical work will focus on Parkinson’s disease, one of several neurodegenerative indications in which NLRP3-driven neuroinflammation is believed to play a critical role. Following completion of Phase 1, Hygtia Therapeutics will assume responsibility for subsequent global clinical development, regulatory filings, and commercialization activities.
ISM8969 is an orally available, brain-penetrant inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component of the innate immune system. Dysregulated NLRP3 activation has been increasingly linked to neuroinflammation and disease progression in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite strong scientific interest, there are currently no approved therapies that directly and specifically target NLRP3, highlighting the unmet need in this space.
The compound was discovered and optimized using Insilico’s proprietary generative AI platform, Chemistry42. Preclinical studies have demonstrated robust efficacy, a favorable safety profile, and strong blood–brain barrier penetration, a critical requirement for CNS therapies. Insilico has conducted extensive evaluations of ISM8969 across multiple neurological disease models and selected it as a preclinical candidate based on these results.
Both companies described the partnership as a strategic step toward building globally competitive neuroscience pipelines. By combining AI-enabled drug design with downstream development and commercialization capabilities, Insilico and Hygtia aim to accelerate ISM8969’s progress and address significant unmet needs in neurodegenerative diseases driven by chronic neuroinflammation.