LAB eN² will involve institutions including Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, Yale University, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Sidley represented Novo Nordisk Inc. (NYSE: NVO) in its collaboration with Evotec SE (NASDAQ: EVO) to launch LAB eN², a translational drug discovery accelerator that aims to nurture early research from academic institutions into novel therapeutics. The focus of the collaboration is to accelerate the translation of academic ideas to therapeutic product candidates in the cardiometabolic space.

LAB eN² is a unique engagement model that combines Evotec’s multimodality drug discovery and preclinical development capabilities with Novo Nordisk’s therapeutic, clinical, and commercial expertise. LAB eN² has already signed on four academic institutions to participate: Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, Yale University, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A year in the making, this complex deal required a structure that would satisfy multiple parties while balancing industry and academia in a broad way.

The Sidley team, which was led by Asher M. Rubin (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions), Alison M. Lehner (Emerging Companies and Venture Capital), and BinQuan Zhuang, Ph.D. (M&A) assisted with the formation, structure, and negotiation of the collaboration, and were assisted by Catherine Y. Starks (Healthcare), Paul A. Svoboda (Tax), and John Miscevich (IP Litigation).