Ogeda

Ogeda S.A., originally established as Euroscreen S.A. in 1994, was a clinical-stage drug discovery company that specialized in developing small molecule drugs targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company originated as a spin-off from the University of Brussels. Over its history, the business model evolved, shifting from a chemistry service provider to a focused drug development entity. This transformation was guided by CEO Jean Combalbert, who led the company from 2006 through its eventual acquisition. Combalbert, a PharmD and PhD, brought extensive experience from senior roles at Sanofi and Galderma, and has a track record of building and exiting R&D-stage biotech firms.

The company's business was centered on identifying and advancing proprietary drug candidates through clinical trials to address unmet medical needs, with a subsequent goal of licensing these assets to larger pharmaceutical companies. A significant milestone was the rebranding from Euroscreen S.A. to Ogeda in October 2016, a move reflecting its concentrated effort on drug development. The company operated a services unit, EuroscreenFast, which provided integrated solutions for GPCR research and development projects to a global client base including pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic institutions.

Ogeda's lead investigational product was fezolinetant (also known as ESN364), an oral, selective NK3 receptor antagonist. This non-hormonal treatment was developed for menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (MR-VMS), such as hot flashes. The drug functions by acting on the KNDy neuron to regulate body temperature, addressing the effects of estrogen deficiency during menopause. In January 2017, Ogeda announced positive results from a Phase IIa study, which demonstrated that fezolinetant significantly reduced the frequency and severity of moderate-to-severe hot flashes compared to a placebo. This clinical success was a pivotal achievement, validating the drug's potential.

Following the promising Phase IIa data, Japanese pharmaceutical giant Astellas Pharma Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ogeda in April 2017. The acquisition was completed in May 2017, with Ogeda becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas. The deal was valued at up to €800 million, consisting of a €500 million upfront payment and an additional €300 million tied to clinical development and regulatory milestones for fezolinetant. The acquisition provided Astellas with a significant late-stage clinical asset and expanded its pipeline in a therapeutic area with high unmet needs.

Keywords: Ogeda, Euroscreen S.A., fezolinetant, Astellas acquisition, Jean Combalbert, G-protein coupled receptors, GPCR, NK3 receptor antagonist, non-hormonal treatment, menopause-related vasomotor symptoms, MR-VMS, hot flashes, clinical-stage drug discovery, small molecule drugs, biopharmaceutical, University of Brussels spin-off, EuroscreenFast, women's health, ESN364, clinical trials