Almirall and Kyorin in 38 million-euro licensing deal for COPD drug in Japan

Spain’s largest drugmaker Almirall (ALM.MC) has entered into an accord with Japan’s Kyorin Pharmaceutical (TSE; 4569) providing the latter with exclusive rights to develop and commercialize aclidinium bromide in Japan for the treatment of COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease said to afflict around 86% of the Japanese population aged 40 or more.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kyorin will make a downpayment and potential development and sales milestones equivalent of up to 38 million euros ($51.8 million) in total. Kyorin will assume responsibility for development, regulatory approval and commercialization of aclidinium bromide in Japan. The agreement also includes escalating royalties based on the sales performance, the Spanish company noted.

This is the second licensing agreement with aclidinium – the first being with USA-based Forest Laboratories – and represents a step further in extending the global reach of the product and maximizing its value potential, said Jorge Gallardo, chairman and chief executive of Almirall, noting that “this agreement is also a milestone in our mission to offer society innovative medicines to fulfil unmet medical needs."