DURHAM — Duke University and Deerfield Management Company, a healthcare investment firm, have joined forces to launch a new company called Four Points Innovation.
Its aim: to accelerate the preclinical development of new drugs targeting patients who suffer from hard-to-treat and rare diseases.
The collaboration is being spearheaded by Duke University’s Office of Licensing & Ventures (OLV).
“This is an exciting day for Duke and the patients we serve,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, Dean, Duke University School of Medicine and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, in a statement. “This new partnership will help further Duke’s commitment to improve the lives of people in our own community and around the world by supporting and accelerating the translation of research into new therapies to treat and cure society’s most formidable healthcare challenges.”
Deerfield is offering up to $130 million of initial funding to back the initiative for 10 years.
A private company wholly owned by affiliates of Deerfield, Four Points Innovation will support Duke research and development projects throughout preclinical stages of drug discovery and development.
Beginning approximately in March 2020, Duke researchers will have the ability to submit proposals on projects for consideration by a Four Points Innovation committee comprised of scientific leadership representing both Duke and Deerfield.
Accepted projects will include a development plan aimed at achieving Investigational New Drug (IND) readiness. Deerfield will provide funding and operational support for accepted projects, and successful projects that achieve IND-enabled status may be eligible for additional capital from Deerfield.
The announcement comes on the heels of a stellar year for Duke University.
Duke’s Office of Licensing and Ventures broke records with 354 invention disclosures, 120 agreements, and 32 exclusive agreements. Duke faculty and staff formed 16 new startups during the year, bringing the university’s total to over 140 new companies. Over the last two years, 29 of the university’s 32 start ups have chosen to stay in North Carolina.
“Duke University, with its vast research enterprise, world-class investigators and novel innovations, is a leader in biomedical discovery,” said James E. Flynn, Managing Partner at Deerfield Management, in a statement. “We are excited about entering into this partnership with Duke, as we collectively seek to develop new medicines to save lives and address unmet medical needs.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Four Points Innovation would receive an option to license Four Points Innovation-funded intellectual property developed at Duke.
