Kubota Vision, Leo Pharma sign open innovation agreement

Kubota Vision and Leo Pharma have entered into an open innovation agreement to screen novel vascular adhesion protein-1 inhibitor compounds, according to a press release.

Kubota Vision, formerly known as Acucela, discovered the VAP-1 inhibitor compounds, also known as semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase inhibitors, which will be evaluated by Leo Pharma for potential therapeutic use in inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the release said.

Leo Pharma’s open innovation screening program allows the company to collaborate with external partners to identify new, promising therapies for skin diseases. Under the agreement, Leo Pharma will provide in-house expertise and research tools to screen molecules for potential in dermatology.

“We are excited to collaborate with Leo Pharma. Through their unique open innovation screening program, we are able to easily provide novel compounds for evaluation. We have previously engaged in R&D collaborations with several parties worldwide to identify new areas of value creation,” Ryo Kubota, MD, PhD, chairman, president and CEO of Kubota Vision, said in the release. “In our research for new medicines for ocular inflammation, we have identified a portfolio of potent and selective VAP-1 inhibitors. We hope that the collaboration with Leo Pharma will help identify and enhance the value of our compounds in other therapeutic fields, such as dermatology.”