{"id":61124,"date":"2026-03-24T19:16:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T11:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flcube.com\/?p=61124"},"modified":"2026-03-24T19:16:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T11:16:17","slug":"chipscreen-biosciences-licenses-epidaza-to-nizhpharm-29m-deal-expands-hdac-inhibitor-into-central-asia-and-eastern-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flcube.com\/?p=61124","title":{"rendered":"Chipscreen Biosciences Licenses Epidaza to Nizhpharm \u2013 $29M Deal Expands HDAC Inhibitor into Central Asia and Eastern Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co., Ltd.<\/strong> (SHA: 688321<\/a>) announced a licensing agreement<\/strong> with Nizhny Novgorod Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant (Nizhpharm)<\/strong>, granting the Russian firm exclusive R&D, regulatory, and commercialization rights<\/strong> to Epidaza (chidamide)<\/strong> across 12 countries and regions in Central Asia and Eastern Europe<\/strong>, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus<\/strong>. The deal provides Chipscreen with $29 million total upfront and milestone payments<\/strong> plus high double-digit royalties<\/strong> on net sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transaction Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Element<\/th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Licensor<\/strong><\/td>Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co., Ltd. (688321.SH)<\/td><\/tr>
Licensee<\/strong><\/td>Nizhny Novgorod Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant (Nizhpharm)<\/td><\/tr>
Asset<\/strong><\/td>Epidaza (chidamide)<\/td><\/tr>
Territory<\/strong><\/td>12 countries\/regions<\/strong> \u2013 Central Asia and Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, etc.)<\/td><\/tr>
Rights Granted<\/strong><\/td>Exclusive R&D, regulatory filing, commercialization<\/td><\/tr>
Upfront Payment<\/strong><\/td>RMB 10 million (USD 14.5 million)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Milestone Payment<\/strong><\/td>RMB 10 million (USD 14.5 million)<\/strong> upon local registration and marketing<\/td><\/tr>
Royalties<\/strong><\/td>High double-digit percentage<\/strong> of net sales<\/td><\/tr>
Supply Arrangement<\/strong><\/td>Nizhpharm to procure drug from Chipscreen at agreed prices<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Product Profile & Mechanism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Attribute<\/th>Chidamide Specification<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Mechanism<\/strong><\/td>First orally available subtype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Therapeutic Effect<\/strong><\/td>Reactivates tumor-suppressive immune microenvironment<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Usage<\/strong><\/td>Monotherapy or combination for malignant tumors and other major diseases<\/td><\/tr>
China Approvals<\/strong><\/td>3 indications:<\/strong> peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), breast cancer, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)<\/td><\/tr>
Formulation<\/strong><\/td>Oral (convenience advantage vs. injectable HDAC inhibitors)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strategic Rationale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chipscreen Perspective<\/th>Nizhpharm Perspective<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Geographic expansion<\/strong> \u2013 first major ex-China partnership for Epidaza in emerging markets<\/td>Exclusive rights<\/strong> to proven HDAC inhibitor in underserved oncology markets<\/td><\/tr>
Non-dilutive capital<\/strong> \u2013 $29M total payments fund pipeline expansion<\/td>Regulatory pathway<\/strong> \u2013 leverage China approval data for accelerated local registrations<\/td><\/tr>
Manufacturing revenue<\/strong> \u2013 ongoing API\/finished dose supply agreement<\/td>Portfolio diversification<\/strong> \u2013 adds innovative oncology asset to Nizhpharm’s generic-heavy catalog<\/td><\/tr>
Royalty upside<\/strong> \u2013 high double-digit royalties on sales without commercial investment<\/td>First-in-class positioning<\/strong> \u2013 only subtype-selective oral HDAC inhibitor in territory<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Market Context & Commercial Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Factor<\/th>Implication<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Target Markets<\/strong><\/td>~150 million population<\/strong> across 12 countries; limited access to innovative oncology therapies due to sanctions and supply constraints<\/td><\/tr>
HDAC Inhibitor Class<\/strong><\/td>Vorinostat, romidepsin (non-selective) established but toxic; chidamide’s subtype selectivity<\/strong> offers improved safety profile<\/td><\/tr>
Competitive Advantage<\/strong><\/td>Oral administration<\/strong> vs. injectable competitors; immune microenvironment modulation<\/strong> supports combination with PD-1\/PD-L1 inhibitors<\/td><\/tr>
Pricing Strategy<\/strong><\/td>Expected $15,000\u201325,000 annual therapy cost<\/strong> \u2013 premium to generics but accessible vs. Western innovator pricing<\/td><\/tr>
Revenue Potential<\/strong><\/td>Peak sales $50\u201380 million annually<\/strong> across 12 territories; Chipscreen royalties $10\u201315 million<\/strong> at maturity<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n