US-based Acorda Therapeutics Inc., (Nasdaq: ACOR) has announced a distribution and supply agreement with Hangzhou Chance Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, a Chinese pharmaceutical company. This deal will facilitate the supply of Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) to the mainland China market, where it will be used as an intermittent treatment for episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are treated with levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor.
Financial Terms and Milestones of the Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, Hangzhou Chance Pharmaceuticals is paying Acorda an upfront fee of USD 2.5 million, with a near-term milestone payment of USD 6 million, and an additional USD 3 million upon receiving regulatory approval. The total potential value of the deal includes up to USD 132.5 million in sales-based milestones. Furthermore, Chance will pay a fixed fee for each carton of Inbrija supplied, indicating a commitment to the product’s distribution and commercialization in China.
Inbrija and the ARCUS Pulmonary Delivery System
Inbrija utilizes Acorda’s innovative ARCUS pulmonary delivery system, a technology platform designed to deliver medication through inhalation. This approach offers a non-invasive method for administering treatment, which can be particularly beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Market Potential and Growth Forecasts
The two firms are poised to enter a growing market in China, where the population of Parkinson’s disease sufferers is forecasted to reach 5 million by 2030. This agreement not only expands Acorda’s global footprint but also addresses a significant unmet medical need in China, offering a new treatment option for patients coping with the motor fluctuations associated with Parkinson’s disease.-Fineline Info & Tech
