By Fineline Cube 
C‑MER Medical Holdings Limited (HKG: 3309) announced that its joint‑venture arm, Health Hope Pharma Limited (HHP), has entered into a tri‑partite global licensing and collaboration agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd. The deal centers on encequidar, a first‑in‑class P‑glycoprotein (P‑gp) inhibitor that can convert injectable therapeutics into oral formulations.
Deal Highlights
- Exclusive Virology Rights – HHP and Hanmi grant Gilead the worldwide exclusive rights to encequidar for virology indications.
- Supply & Technical Collaboration – The partners will provide drug supply, share technical know‑how, and serve as key project collaborators.
- Financial Terms – HHP receives an upfront payment of USD 10 million, with potential future payments of up to USD 72.5 million and low single‑digit royalties on net sales, contingent on milestone achievements.
Strategic Context
- Oral Paclitaxel Transformation – Encequidar, originally developed by Hanmi, enables the conversion of injectable paclitaxel into an oral regimen.
- Phase III Trial – HHP is preparing a global, multi‑center Phase III trial of oral paclitaxel plus encequidar for metastatic breast cancer, targeting U.S., Hong Kong, and New Zealand markets by 2025.
- Chemotherapy Innovation – The trial aims to replace intravenous paclitaxel with an oral formulation, potentially improving patient convenience and adherence.
Market Implications
The collaboration positions Gilead to leverage a novel virology‑specific P‑gp inhibitor, while C‑MER and Hanmi expand their portfolio into oncology. If the Phase III trial demonstrates superior efficacy or safety, the oral paclitaxel‑encequidar combination could disrupt the breast‑cancer chemotherapy landscape and generate significant revenue for all parties.-Fineline Info & Tech