iNtRON Biotechnology announced that SAL200, a endolysin-based novel antibacterial treatment for Staph superbugs including MRSA, has come back to the market and is now on-the table for an out-licensing deal. Lysovant had acquired the global exclusive right of SAL200 in 2018 and was about to initiate the US phase 2 study under the IND approval by the US FDA. However, Lysovant has decided to return the asset to iNtRON based on an internal reason of the company.
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Mr. Yoon, Kyung Won, CEO of iNtRON, has shared the future plan that the company will seek a new partner by utilizing more complemented and structured clinical data of SAL200. Mr. Yoon also said “Since the actual patient injection was about to begin based on the study preparation process including the IND approval in January of this year following the application submission in December of the previous year, investigator meeting, and clinical sites selection, this asset return translates into the internal strategic decision of Roivant. Although all data and rights of SAL200 has been returned to us, the upfront payment from Lysovant will not be refunded.”
Dr. Kang, Sang Hyeon, CTO of iNtRON, said “Regardless of the situation, as SAL200 is in good shape ever and completeness of the asset has been significantly increased through years of development and partnership, and the asset was returned merely due to the internal reason of the partner, it is believed that the value of SAL200 is not impaired at all. We assure that we will find a new partner to pursue the clinical development of SAL200 very soon”.
Mr. Yoon said “The fact that the endolysin-based first-in-class new drug pipeline has acquired the IND approval by the US FDA is a significant progressive, so the partnership with Lysovant was valuable enough to us”, and he said “Lysovant has made tens of million dollars investment for asset to receive the US Phase 2 IND approval since they acquired the asset, the additional data and know-how achieved through the capital investment by the partner will be very meaningful technological assets for the future development of SAL200, we are truly grateful for the friendly partnership of Lysovant”.