Lupuzor is in Phase II trials.
Cephalon inked an option agreement to obtain an exclusive, worldwide license to ImmuPharma’s Lupuzor™ for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. ImmuPharma is now conducting a large Phase IIb study of Lupuzor in patients in Europe and Latin America.
Cephalon will pay ImmuPharma a $15 million upfront option payment. If the Phase IIb studies are successful and if the option is exercised, then the parties will enter into an exclusive worldwide license agreement and ImmuPharma will receive a one-time license fee, milestone payments upon the achievement of regulatory milestones and royalties on commercial sales of Lupuzor. The various milestone payments, which include sales milestones, may total up to $500 million.
Upon exercise of the option, Cephalon will assume all expenses for Phase III studies and subsequent commercialization of the product.
Lupuzor is an immune-modulating treatment that has shown, according to the company an ability to modulate a specific subset of CD4 T cells that have a critical role in the physiopathology of Lupus.