Zydus Lifesciences’ wholly-owned subsidiary -- Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc. (Sentynl) and Mereo BioPharma Group plc (Mereo), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases, have entered into an option and license agreement for the U.S. commercial and global manufacturing rights to alvelestat for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Associated Lung Disease (AATD-LD). Alvelestat is a neutrophil elastase inhibitor being readied for Phase 3 and, if approved, would be the first oral treatment for this rare, progressive genetic lung disease affecting an estimated 50,000-80,000 individuals in the United States.
The option and license agreement grants Sentynl the exclusive right to acquire a license to commercialize alvelestat for AATD-LD in the United States, with Mereo retaining commercial rights in the rest of the world. The agreement also grants Sentynl global rights to manufacture alvelestat for AATD-LD and on option exercise, it provides funding for the alvelestat Phase 3 development program, which could be initiated in early 2027.
Mereo will receive a non-refundable option fee from Sentynl and, on exercise of the option, the Company would also receive up to $40 million in upfront and R&D payments until NDA filing. Under these terms, Mereo would also be eligible to receive double-digit tiered royalties on U.S. net sales of alvelestat.
Zydus Lifesciences (formerly known as Cadila Healthcare), a company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in India, operates as an integrated pharmaceutical company with business encompassing the entire value chain in the research, development, production, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products.
| Company Name | CMP |
|---|---|
| Sun Pharma. Inds. | 1932.70 |
| Dr. Reddys Labs. | 1200.00 |
| Cipla | 1465.00 |
| Lupin | 2251.00 |
| Zydus Lifesciences | 1193.60 |
| View more.. | |
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