Takeda, Frazier Healthcare team to launch new biopharma co.

May 20, 2019

Takeda and Frazier Healthcare have announced a collaboration to launch Phathom Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel treatments for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.

Japan-based Takeda, after recently closing its $62 billion purchase of Shire, has granted a license to Phathom for the development and exclusive commercialization rights to vonoprazan in the United States, Europe and Canada. Vonoprazan is a novel, orally active potassium competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) discovered and developed by Takeda. The drug has been marketed in Japan since 2015, as well as other markets throughout Asia.

Phathom has completed a $90 million private financing led by Frazier Healthcare Partners with investments from Medicxi, RA Capital Management, Abingworth, certain accounts managed by Janus Henderson Investors, BVF Partners LP, Greenspring Associates, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Sahsen Ventures and undisclosed institutional investors. The company will be headquartered in Menlo Park, California.

Read the press release.