Viridian Licenses Promising Eye Disease Candidates to Kissei for Japanese Market
Viridian Therapeutics and Kissei Pharmaceutical signed an exclusive partnership and license agreement for the development and commercialization of veligrotug and VRDN-003, two anti-IGF-1R antibodies targeting thyroid eye disease (TED), in Japan135.
Kissei will hold exclusive rights for development, regulatory submissions, and commercialization for these candidates in Japan and will bear all associated costs123.
Viridian will receive a $70 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $315 million in development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties ranging from the 20s to mid-30s percent on Japanese net sales13.
The decision to partner follows strong and consistent Phase 3 data for veligrotug in the THRIVE and THRIVE-2 studies, which met all primary and secondary endpoints in thyroid eye disease patients2.
VRDN-003 is a subcutaneous, half-life–extended version of the antibody, aimed at convenient administration and potentially best-in-class efficacy3.
Veligrotug has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for treating TED2.
This deal underscores both companies’ commitment to rapidly advancing novel treatments for TED and leverages Kissei’s experience in successfully developing and commercializing rare disease therapies in Japan12.
Sources:
1. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/viridian-kissei-veligrotug-vrdn-003/
2. https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/viridian-licenses-thyroid-eye-disease-treatments-to-kissei-in-japan-93CH-4159056
3. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/viridian-partners-kissei-385-mln-japan-deal-thyroid-eye-disease-treatments