Theravance Biopharma Ireland Limited, a subsidiary of Theravance Biopharma, and Pfizer have announced that the companies have entered into a global license agreement for Theravance Biopharma's preclinical program for skin-targeted, locally-acting pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that can be rapidly metabolized. The compounds in this program target validated pro-inflammatory pathways and are specifically designed to possess skin-selective activity with minimal systemic exposure.

Under the terms of the agreement, Theravance Biopharma will receive an upfront cash payment of $10 million and will be eligible to receive up to an additional $240 million in development and sales milestone payments from Pfizer. In addition, Theravance Biopharma will be eligible to receive royalties on worldwide net sales of any potential products emerging from the program. 

"We believe that this global agreement with Pfizer provides further validation of our unique expertise in the discovery and development of innovative, organ-selective JAK inhibitors. As a clear global leader in the field of JAK inhibition, Pfizer is ideally positioned to advance this program and unlock its therapeutic potential," said Rick E Winningham, chief executive officer of Theravance Biopharma. 

"Theravance Biopharma's skin-targeted JAK inhibitor program will nicely complement Pfizer's portfolio of preclinical and clinical-stage molecules, which have unique selectivity profiles and are matched to conditions in which we believe they have the greatest potential to address unmet need," said Michael Vincent, chief scientific officer, Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer. "Topical JAK inhibitors that can be rapidly metabolized have potential to reach more patients with mild-to-moderate skin conditions, for whom treatment is currently limited."