Lee’s Pharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 0950) has entered into a licensing agreement with US-based Windtree Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: WINT) to develop and commercialize multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatments in the Greater China region. The agreement includes the development of istaroxime, a Phase III-ready, first-in-class dual-mechanism SERCA2a activator for acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock, as well as Windtree’s next-generation SERCA2a activators in the preclinical stage. Additionally, the deal encompasses rostafuroxin, a digitoxigenin analog designed to reduce hypertension in patients with specific genotypes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lee’s has committed to milestone payments of up to USD 138.1 million, with USD 100 million allocated to the performance of the SERCA2a activators in heart failure treatments. Windtree is also entitled to receive low double-digit royalties on any future sales of the products in the region.
This new deal builds upon an existing partnership between Windtree and Lee’s. In 2017, Windtree licensed three of its KL4 surfactant respiratory product candidates and aerosolization technologies to Lee’s. Istaroxime, originally discovered by Italy-based Sigma-Tau, now Leadiant Biosciences, was sold to Taiwan’s CVie Therapeutics in 2012. Following CVie’s merger with Windtree in 2018, the molecule has been further developed as a positive inotropic agent that enhances myocardial contractility. Istaroxime has shown significant improvements in cardiac function and blood pressure without increasing heart rate or the risk of cardiac rhythm disturbances in Phase II studies, including those involving Chinese patients. Lee’s will now independently fund and conduct a Phase III trial in China while Windtree continues its global development program.- Flcube.com
