Concert Pharmaceuticals has formed its second collaboration of 2013 by partnering with Celgene to develop deuterium-modified compounds targeting cancer and inflammation based on its DCE Platform® (deuterated chemical entity). The collaboration will initially focus on one programme, with the potential to include more targets in the future. Celgene will make an upfront payment and could pay more than US$300 M in milestone payments for each programme it elects to develop plus tiered royalties. The revenue from the deal will help Concert advance the development of its lead drug candidate CTP-499, which is in a Phase II study for diabetic nephropathy.