Soligenix acquires Ph III-ready oncology clinical program

US clinical-stage biopharma firm Soligenix (OTCQB: SNGX) has acquired a novel orphan drug candidate, known as SGX301 (synthetic hypericin) from Yeda Research and Development, the commercial arm of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot.

SGX301 is poised to enter pivotal Phase III clinical testing for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and is highly synergistic with the company's existing development pipeline. As part of the acquisition, Soligenix acquired all rights for synthetic hypericin, including intellectual property, and preclinical and clinical data. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SGX301 has received orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CTCL, which provides for seven years of market exclusivity on approval in the USA. SGX301 is being developed pursuant to discoveries made at New York University Medical Center together with Yeda Research and Development.