Date: 2014-08-13
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: RP101 and next generation compounds
Company: RedHill Biopharma (Israel) RESprotect (Germany)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: licensing
Action mechanism: heat shock protein inhibitor/nucleoside analogue. RP101 is a nucleoside analogue found by Prof. Rudolf Fahrig at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM) in Hannover. This nucleoside analogue binds to heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) and inhibits its anti-apoptotic effects. Hsp27 is a chaperone protein which is found in abnormally high levels in cancer cells. The overexpression of Hsp27, which results in anti-apoptotic effects, has been linked to tumor resistance to cytotoxic drugs and the development of metastasis. By inhibiting Hsp27, RP101 may prevent the induction of resistance to chemotherapy and maintain sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy, thus potentially enhancing patient survival. RP101 has been studied in several Phase I and Phase II clinical studies with a total of 249 subjects treated, including a Phase II study in pancreatic cancer. RP101 has been granted Orphan Drug designation for the adjunct treatment of pancreatic cancer by the FDA and the EMA.
Disease:
Details: * On August 13, 2014, RedHill Biopharma, an Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused on late clinical-stage drugs for inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including gastrointestinal cancers, and RESprotect, a privately-held biotech company located in Dresden, Germany, announced that they have entered into a binding exclusive option agreement for the acquisition of the oncology drug candidate RP101 and next generation compounds. RP101 is a proprietary, first-in-class, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) inhibitor, administered orally, which may prevent the induction of resistance to chemotherapy, thus maintaining sensitivity of the tumor to chemotherapy and potentially enhancing patient survival.
Under the terms of the agreement, RedHill has the option to acquire the worldwide exclusive rights to RP101 for all indications, other than to the pancreatic cancer indication in South Korea. RedHill has agreed to pay RESprotect for a one year option, which may be extended by RedHill under certain agreed terms. During the option period, RedHill may, at its discretion, conduct development activities with RP101. If RedHill elects to exercise the option, it will acquire the exclusive rights to RP101 for a total payment, for both the option and the acquisition of the rights, of $100,000, as well as potential milestone payments and tiered royalties on net revenues, ranging from single-digit to mid-teens.
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