Galapagos NV has initiated clinical phase-I development of the first small molecule candidate from its arthritis alliance with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). For entering the clinic with candidate drug GLPG0555, Galapagos receives a milestone payment of €4 million cash from GSK. Since the start of the arthritis alliance in June 2006, Galapagos has received a total of €35 million in payments from GSK.

The orally-available, novel candidate drug GLPG0555 modifies kinase target GT622 and was identified through Galapagos’ proprietary target discovery platform. Candidate drug GLPG0555 has demonstrated excellent activity in biochemical and animal models and has successfully completed pre-clinical development.

“This alliance with GSK was Galapagos’ first, adding a special significance to today’s clinical milestone. By funding an alliance programme from target discovery to phase-I through success-based payments, we are achieving what we set out to do with our alliance strategy. This trial marks the first of what we would hope to be many programs from the arthritis alliance with GSK to enter the clinic,” said Onno van de Stolpe, chief executive officer of Galapagos.

With the initiation of the phase-I trial with GLPG0555, Galapagos now has four candidate drugs in clinical development (phase-I and phase-II).

GSK and Galapagos initiated an arthritis alliance to discover and develop disease-modifying drugs for GSK’s global R&D organization in June 2006.

Galapagos is a drug discovery and development company with small molecule programmes in bone and joint diseases, bone metastasis, cachexia, anti-infectives and metabolic diseases.