- Angelini Pharma obtains exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialization rights to OV101 (gaboxadol) for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom) and Russia
- Ovid Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and additional payments of up to $212.5 million upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones, in addition to double-digit royalties on net sales if successfully commercialized
- Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG
- Ovid to host conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Toronto, July 16, 2020: Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OVID) (hereinafter “Ovid”), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing medicines that transform the lives of people with rare neurological diseases, and Angelini Pharma S.p.A. (hereinafter “Angelini Pharma”), an Italian family-owned pharmaceutical company committed to helping patients with a constant and prevalent focus on Mental Health, Rare Diseases and Consumer Health, announced an agreement in which Angelini Pharma will be responsible to develop, manufacture and commercialize OV101 (gaboxadol) for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union, other countries in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Russia. Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG. OV101 is believed to be the only delta (δ)-selective GABAA receptor agonist in development, and is currently being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 NEPTUNE trial in Angelman syndrome, with topline results expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ovid will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and is eligible to receive up to an additional $212.5 million in payments upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones for the initial indication (Angelman syndrome), as well as double-digit royalties on net sales if OV101 is successfully commercialized. Ovid will retain all U.S. and rest-of-world commercial rights to OV101.
“We are excited to enter into a strategic collaboration with Angelini Pharma with the goal of bringing OV101, if approved, to the Angelman community in Europe as quickly as possible. Angelini Pharma is an ideal partner for Europe as they have deep regional knowledge, an established infrastructure with a history of successful product launches, and a commitment to improving the quality of life of the patient communities they serve,” said Jeremy Levin, DPhil, MB, BChir, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ovid Therapeutics. “Finding the right partners to bring OV101 to the Angelman community as rapidly as possible is a core part of our global strategy. We believe this partnership with Angelini will help to maximize the potential commercial value of OV101 and achieve our strategic objectives in this important geography.”
“Today is a day that we will remember. Through our collaboration with Ovid Therapeutics, we are laying the foundation to developing innovative health solutions for rare diseases, in line with Angelini Pharma’s new strategy,” said Pierluigi Antonelli, Angelini Pharma CEO. “The new business unit Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG will contribute to the development, registration, production and, if approved, commercialization in Europe of OV101, Ovid Therapeutics’ very promising drug being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. As of now, there is no effective treatment for this rare genetic disease, characterized by severe psychomotor disability, which manifests itself from childhood. Delivering on our commitment makes us proud both from a scientific and social impact perspectives”.
“As shareholders and executives of Angelini Holding we continue to invest in the pharma area, which today represents half of our Group’s turnover,” commented the executive vice president Thea Paola Angelini and the CEO Sergio Marullo di Condojanni. “Our global development and internationalization strategy focuses on business areas with high growth potential. Particularly, we look closely at all the opportunities that can open up, not only in healthcare, but also in the consumer and machinery sector.”
Rothschild & Co acted as an advisor to Ovid on the collaboration agreement.
