Roivant Sciences and iNtRON Biotech ink deal for novel anti-superbugs biologic

Switzerland-headquartered Roivant Sciences and South Korea’s iNtRON Biotechnology (048530: Kosdaq) have entered into a landmark global licensing agreement for SAL200, a novel investigational biologic for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci.

This licensing deal is worth a total of $667.5 million inclusive of milestone payments, with royalties on net sales in the low double digits.

Under the terms of the agreement, iNtRON Bio, whose shares rose over 7% on the news, will receive an upfront payment on execution of the agreement and subsequent milestone payments for development, regulatory, and sales-driven events. This agreement also provides Roivant with the option to license iNtRON Bio’s non-clinical stage, anti-Gram-positive endolysin programs - including anti-VRE and anti-TB biologics - for an additional consideration of up to$45 million each. Roivant also has the first right of offer for iNtRON Bio’s anti-Gram-negative platform.

Roivant has created a dedicated subsidiary to pursue the global development and commercialization of endolysin products from iNtRON Bio. Roivant plans to initiate a Phase II trial for SAL200 in 2019.

iNtRON Bio is Roivant Sciences’ second official partner in Korea following its $502.5 million licensing deal with HanAll Biopharma for HL161BKN, a drug candidate that blocks pathogenic antibody recycling that causes autoimmune diseases in December last year.

“This partnership with iNtRON represents our commitment at Roivant Pharma to deliver transformational therapeutics,” said Dr Mayukh Sukhatme, president of Roivant Pharma., adding:“The development of novel anti-infective therapies is one of the greatest needs of our time and we hope to maximize the impact of SAL200 on public health through innovative approaches to both development and commercialization.”

“This partnership between iNtRON Bio and Roivant combines our industry-leading endolysin platform with their track record of operational excellence,” said Kyung Won Yoon, chief executive of iNtRON Bio. “Together we hope to ensure that physicians have better options in their armamentarium in preparation for the ‘post-antibiotic era’ on the horizon.”