Novartis will be gaining global rights to Kyorin Pharmaceutical’s pre-clinical inflammatory disease drug in a deal worth over $830m.
The agreement gives Novartis an exclusive worldwide licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise KRP-M223, an MRGPRX2 antagonist for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and other allergic and inflammatory diseases involving mast cells.
Approximately 40 million people globally are affected by CSU, a common skin condition characterised by the sudden appearance of raised, itchy and sometimes painful hives (wheals) that last for at least six weeks.
Alongside its physical symptoms, CSU can significantly impact well-being, with many patients experiencing sleep deprivation, as well as psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kyorin will receive $55m upfront and will be eligible for milestone payments of up to $777.5m, as well as tiered royalties on net sales. Kyorin will also have the option to commercialise KRP-M223 in Japan, with Novartis retaining its own option to co-promote the product in this market.
Novartis has made a number of recent deals to expand its pipeline across multiple therapeutic areas. A few weeks ago, the company announced that it will be expanding its late-stage cardiovascular pipeline by acquiring Anthos Therapeutics for approximately $3.1bn.
The acquisition will give Novartis access to abelacimab, which is currently in phase 3 development for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm.
Shreeram Aradhye, president, development and chief medical officer, Novartis, said at the time of the February announcement: “Welcoming Anthos Therapeutics strengthens our focus in the cardiovascular space and complements our portfolio of… treatments, comprehensive clinical programmes, and strategic collaborations that help thousands of patients with heart disease around the world.”
Novartis also revealed in December that it would be gaining exclusive global rights to PTC Therapeutics’ mid-stage Huntington’s disease programme in a deal worth up to $2.9bn, and entered into a worldwide licence and collaboration agreement worth $745m with Ratio Therapeutic in November to advance a somatostatin receptor 2-targeting radiotherapeutic candidate for cancer.