Strategy

Our mission is to develop first-in-class medicines based on the discovery of novel targets. Using human primary cells, we discover which proteins (‘targets’) play a key role in causing diseases. We then identify and develop small molecules that inhibit these targets, restore the balance, and thereby positively influence the course of the disease. This approach addresses the root cause of the disease rather than just treating symptoms. 

Our ambition is to become a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines which will improve people’s lives.

Key elements of our strategy include:

• Rapidly advance the development of filgotinib with our collaboration partner Gilead in RA, CD, UC, PsA, AS, and other inflammatory diseases
  Based on the results from our Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials, we believe that filgotinib is a promising candidate for the treatment of RA, CD, UC, PsA, AS, and other inflammatory diseases. Our collaboration partner Gilead is conducting Phase 3 clinical programs in RA (FINCH), CD (DIVERSITY) and UC (SELECTION) and multiple Phase 2 clinical programs in additional inflammatory diseases. In 2018, we disclosed promising results in a Phase 3 clinical program in RA (FINCH 2) and in Phase 2 clinical programs in PsA (EQUATOR) and AS (TORTUGA).

• Build a commercial organization
  We exercised an option to co-promote filgotinib with Gilead in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. We take a step-wise approach: if approved, we aim to co-promote filgotinib in a number of European territories with our collaboration partner, Gilead, keeping full commercial responsibility for RA in our home markets of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. In a next step, we intend to commercialize successful candidates from our fully proprietary fibrosis pipeline, with a focus on IPF. In order to support our commercial ambitions, we are expanding the team, starting with a number of key hires with extensive expertise in our franchises of inflammation and fibrosis. This enables us to set up a commercial organization and make progress in our ambition to grow towards a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company.

We go step by step on commercial

• Build a fibrosis franchise
  In 2017, we reported positive results with the FLORA Phase 2a trial evaluating GLPG1690 targeting ATX in IPF patients and initiated the ISABELA global Phase 3 program with GLPG1690 in 2018. We expanded indications with GLPG1690 by initiating the NOVESA Phase 2a trial in SSc in early 2019. We directed an additional candidate program with a distinct mechanism of action toward IPF: we started the PINTA Phase 2a trial with GLPG1205 in IPF patients in 2018. We have worldwide development and commercialization rights for GLPG1690 and GLPG1205. In early 2019, we also inlicensed two early stage compounds with novel modes of action in the field of fibrosis from Fibrocor and Evotec.

• Rapidly advance our Toledo class franchise
  We reported remarkable activity with the first of many compounds targeting the Toledo target class during our R&D Update in 2018. Molecules inhibiting this target family effectuate a dual mode of action on inflammation by stimulating anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines. We have observed unprecedented activity in various inflammatory preclinical models with compounds targeting the class. We are executing on a broad program to discover and develop multiple series of compounds acting on Toledo, aimed at activity across several conditions, with a key focus on inflammation. We started the first Phase 1 trial with GLPG3312 in early 2019, and plan to initiate a Phase 1 trial with the second Toledo compound, GLPG3970, later this year.

• Advance GLPG1972 in OA patient clinical trials with our collaboration partner Servier
  In  2016, we announced that a Phase 1 first-in-human trial of GLPG1972, targeting ADAMTS-5 for the treatment of OA, showed the product candidate reduced ARGS neoepitope in healthy volunteers up to 60% within two weeks. In early 2018, we disclosed that GLPG1972 showed a similar, dose-dependent ARGS neoepitope reduction in OA patients within four weeks. We initiated the ROCCELLA global Phase 2 program with GLPG1972 together with collaboration partner Servier in 2018 and intend to complete recruitment in 2019. Servier licensed the compound for further development in OA patient trials outside the United States. We retain all development and commercialization rights to this compound in the United States, where we also lead all clinical development of GLPG1972.

• Advance MOR106 in AtD patient clinical trials with our collaboration partners MorphoSys and Novartis
  We announced that 83% of AtD patients treated in Phase 1b with the highest dose of MOR106 achieved EASI-50, with the effect being sustained for months after stop of treatment. MOR106 targets IL17‑C, a novel antibody target discovered by us. We initiated a number of Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials with MOR106 in AtD patients in 2018, with the aim of preparing for Novartis to run the Phase 3 program.

• Maximize and capture the value of our target discovery platform by becoming a fully integrated biotechnology company
  Our platform has yielded many new mode-of-action investigational therapies across multiple therapeutic areas. Our most mature preclinical programs are GLPG2534, GLPG3121, and GLPG3667 and our second generation Toledo compound GLPG3970 for inflammation, which we plan to take into Phase 1 trials in 2019. Additionally, we are exploring the potential of preclinical product candidates in AS, Pso, IBD, AtD, lupus, IPF, SSc, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, type 2 diabetes, and hepatitis B. We aim to initiate a Phase 3 trial every other year, while conducting three proof-of-concept trials, delivering three preclinical product candidates and six new validated targets every year. We aim to select promising programs for internal development and commercialization and establish ourselves as a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company.

R&D ambition