Roivant Sciences and iNtRON Bio Sign Licensing Deal for Novel Anti-Superbugs Biologic SAL200

Roivant Sciences and iNtRON Biotechnology announced that they have entered into a global licensing agreement for SAL200, a novel investigational biologic for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci. This licensing deal is worth a total of US$667.5M inclusive of milestone payments, with royalties on net sales in the low double digits.

Under the terms of the agreement, iNtRON Bio will receive an upfront payment upon execution of the agreement and subsequent milestone payments for development, regulatory, and sales-driven events. This agreement also provides Roivant with the option to license iNtRON Bio’s non-clinical stage, anti-Gram-positive endolysin programs—including anti-VRE and anti-TB biologics—for an additional consideration of up to US$45M each. Roivant also has the first right of offer for iNtRON Bio’s anti-Gram-negative platform.

Roivant has created a dedicated subsidiary to pursue the global development and commercialization of endolysin products from iNtRON Bio. Roivant plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial for SAL200 in 2019.

“This partnership with iNtRON represents our commitment at Roivant Pharma to deliver transformational therapeutics,” said Mayukh Sukhatme, M.D., President of Roivant Pharma. “The development of novel anti-infective therapies is one of the greatest needs of our time and we hope to maximize the impact of SAL200 on public health through innovative approaches to both development and commercialization.”

“This partnership between iNtRON Bio and Roivant combines our industry-leading endolysin platform with their track record of operational excellence,” said Kyung Won Yoon, CEO of iNtRON Bio. “Together we hope to ensure that physicians have better options in their armamentarium in preparation for the ‘post-antibiotic era’ on the horizon.”