Bayer to Strengthen Drug Discovery Platform

Bayer has announced the acquisition of Vividion. Upon completion of the acquisition, Bayer will own full rights to Vividion’s proprietary research platform, which includes three integrated, synergistic components: a novel chemoproteomic screening technology, an integrated data portal, and a proprietary chemical library. The acquisition of Vividion strengthens Bayer’s small molecule capabilities and expands Bayer’s reach into new modalities. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer will pay an upfront payment of US$1.5 billion and potential success-based milestone payments of up to US$500 million. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2021.

With this acquisition, Bayer hopes to provide innovative therapies for patients whose medical needs are not yet met by current treatment options. Identifying drug candidates for proteins that are considered untreatable is a major challenge in drug discovery. Vividion’s chemoproteomic screening platform can identify previously unknown binding pockets on well-validated protein targets by screening chemical probes against the entire human proteome to assess selectivity. In this way, highly potent and selective compounds can be found that provide a broad therapeutic window for a variety of areas of high unmet medical needs. Vividion’s technology has already demonstrated its applicability preclinically for oncology and immunological diseases and has the potential to be extended to other indications.

Vividion’s lead programs include several targets for precision oncology and precision immunology. Current programs include an antagonist of the transcription factor NRF2 for the potential treatment of cancers with NRF2 mutations and NRF2 activators for various inflammatory diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. To maintain its entrepreneurial culture as an essential pillar for driving successful innovation, Vividion will continue to operate as an independent company.