OMass Therapeutics Partners with Genentech to Develop Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapies

OMass Therapeutics, a biotech company specializing in medicines targeting complex protein ecosystems, has entered into an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. The partnership focuses on developing and commercializing OMass’ preclinical oral small molecule program for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Ros Deegan, CEO of OMass Therapeutics, highlighted the progress made using the company’s OdyssION™ platform to target a novel first-in-class mechanism for IBD treatment. “Genentech brings a strong legacy of innovation in immunology and world-class scientific expertise, making them an ideal partner for this program,” Deegan said.

Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development, emphasized the urgent need for new therapies, noting that nearly eight million people live with IBD worldwide. “Despite recent advancements, there is still a high unmet medical need, which fuels our commitment to partnering with companies like OMass focused on innovation,” Zaïtra added.

Under the agreement, OMass will receive a $20 million upfront payment and is eligible for over $400 million in potential milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on net sales. OMass will lead the preclinical development until candidate selection, after which Genentech will take responsibility for clinical development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, and commercialization.

This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of a potentially transformative oral therapy for the millions affected by IBD.