Jun 30 2015
Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive license and research agreement with Yissum, the Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to license certain of Yissum's patents for the development and commercialization of a topical nano-formulated version of AmiKet, pursuant to the parties' existing binding memorandum of understanding from March 2015.
Dr. Daniel Teper, CEO of Immune, commented: "We believe that the new formulation of AmiKet may increase value to potential commercial partners and to Immune. As a result of this agreement, we have had a number of discussions with potential partners over in the last two months, and some of these talks are advancing to the due diligence stage and terms negotiations. We believe that we may be able to better maximize revenues from AmiKet out-licensing through separate US and EU transactions, and then by forging regional agreements in other territories."
AmiKet is a topical drug for the treatment of Neuropathic Pain and has completed trials in more than 1700 patients, demonstrating comparable efficacy to the high dose of the oral standard of care, gabapentin, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial. The Neuropathic Pain market is currently worth $ 3.5 billion according to a Global Data Report.
The newly formulated nano-topical AmiKet has the potential to provide longer exclusivity up to 2036, allow for the development of multiple chronic pain indications and support an improved product profile.
Immune Pharmaceuticals has an extensive strategic partnership with Professor Benita, the former Director of the Institute for Drug Research and Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Yissum, for the development of nano-pharmaceuticals. In addition to the new formulation of AmiKet, the collaboration includes NanomAbs®, antibody nano-particle conjugates for the targeted delivery of chemotherapy and a topical nano-formulated cyclosporine A for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.