Neurocrine Biosciences will make and sell Portugal-based BIAL’s opicapone inhibitor for Parkinson’s patients, in North America.
Opicapone is a COMT inhibitor that was approved in Europe in June 2016 as additional therapy for adult patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Under the agreement, Neurocrine will pay $30 million and deal with necessities required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of opicapone. Neurocrine will also pay another $115 million upon reaching certain milestones. In addition, Neurocrine will pay BIAL a percentage of net sales in exchange for the manufacture and supply of opicapone drug product.
Neurocrine said it will meet with the FDA for making an NDA, after it transfers the technology from BIAL.
“Opicapone is a significant late stage asset with outstanding clinical data and a long period of exclusivity. Upon FDA approval, it will allow us to further leverage our commercial infrastructure and bring much needed relief to the one million people in the United States suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,” said Kevin C. Gorman, chief executive officer (CEO) of Neurocrine Biosciences.
BIALs’ CEO Antonio Portela, said: “We believe this partnership is another landmark for BIAL. Neurocrine has extensive experience in developing therapies for movement disorders and shares our long-term vision for opicapone, we look forward to bringing this important new treatment option to Parkinson’s patients in the United States.”