Haisco Pharmaceutical has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with AbbVie for its Nav1.8 inhibitor program, comprising HSK55718 and HSK51155. Under the agreement, AbbVie obtains exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise the candidates outside of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Haisco will receive an upfront payment of USD 30 million and is eligible for up to USD 715 million in additional development and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties of up to the mid-single-digit percentage range on future net sales.

The two candidates are selective blockers of the Nav1.8 sodium channel, designed to inhibit abnormal pain signal transmission for the treatment of pain-related conditions. HSK55718 is an intravenous formulation currently in Phase I trials in China, while HSK51155 is an oral candidate in preclinical development. AbbVie will also support a portion of the R&D costs for the program through to clinical proof-of-concept.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database shows that this is the largest licensing deal in the Nav1.8 space. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.