Ropes & Gray Advises Gero in Chugai Pharmaceuticals Joint Research and License Agreement to Develop Novel Antibodies for Age-Related Diseases

Ropes & Gray represented Singapore-based biotechnology company Gero PTE. LTD. in a joint research and license agreement with Tokyo-based Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., a member of Roche Group, to develop novel antibody therapies for age-related diseases. The transaction was announced on July 7.

In the collaboration, Chugai will create novel antibody drug candidates using its antibody engineering technologies for new drug targets discovered by Gero through analysis of human datasets using Gero’s AI target discovery platform.

Under the agreement, Gero grants Chugai exclusive worldwide rights for the creation, research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of antibodies for the identified targets. Gero will receive up to $250 million if predetermined development or sales milestones are achieved and royalties if successful products are launched.

The Ropes & Gray team was led by life sciences licensing partner Hannah England and life sciences licensing associate Ian Nilsen and included IP transactions counsel Ryan Murphey and life sciences licensing associates Ben Ellingtonand Mallory Ursul.