Mabwell (Shanghai) Bioscience Co., Ltd (SHA: 688062), a leading biopharmaceutical company in China, has entered into a licensing agreement with Suzhou Risen Pharmaceutical, securing comprehensive rights for the latter’s osteoarthritis treatment, RP901, and its companion diagnostics in Greater China. This includes rights for research and development, regulatory filing, commercialization, and marketing across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mabwell will make an upfront payment of RMB 50 million (USD 6.9 million) to Risen, with potential milestone payments reaching up to RMB 1.07 billion (USD 148 million) and royalties of up to 10% on sales. RP901 is a novel small molecule drug with the potential to be the first in its class for treating osteoarthritis (OA).
The drug is designed to accumulate in the joint cavity following oral administration, where it enhances the synthesis metabolism of joint cartilage and reduces its degradation, thus exerting a therapeutic effect on OA. Preclinical pharmacological studies have shown RP901 to have clear bone protection and OA improvement effects. Additionally, preclinical pharmacokinetic studies indicate high oral bioavailability in rats and monkeys, with isotope labeling methods confirming good distribution in bone and joint target organs. The preclinical safety and phase I clinical trial results have demonstrated that RP901 is well tolerated, positioning it as a promising candidate for further development and commercialization in the treatment of osteoarthritis.- Flcube.com
