TaiGen gets global nemonoxacin rights

Taiwan’s TaiGen Biotechnology has reached a deal with Ireland-headquartered Warner Chilcott (Nasdaq: WCRX) that will transfer the worldwide rights for nemonoxacin, a novel non-fluorinated quinolone antibiotic under development for treatment of antibiotic-resistant infection to TaiGen. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.

With the transfer of the compound, a complete regulatory package and related intellectual property rights, TaiGen will hold the worldwide exclusive rights for development, manufacture, commercialization and sub-licensing of nemonoxacin.

TaiGen originally licensed nemonoxacin product rights in ten Asian countries and worldwide development rights through Phase II from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Warner Chilcott in October 2009 for $3.1 billion. In August 2010, Warner Chilcott regained all rights outside the TaiGen territories after TaiGen obtained positive data, including effective eradication of MRSA and quinolone-resistant MRSA in two Phase II trials for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and diabetic foot infection under a US Food and Drug Administration Investigational New Drug application.