Zydus Lifesciences subsidiary Sentynl Therapeutics has announced the worldwide acquisition of the Zokinvy (lonafarnib) programme from Eiger BioPharmaceuticals for the treatment of progeria.
Zokinvy is the first and only treatment to obtain US FDA approval that targets the cause and symptoms of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) and processing-deficient progeroid laminopathies (PDPL), collectively called progeria.
The treatment is indicated for usage in individuals aged 12 months and above.
An ultra-rare, fatal genetic condition, progeria causes premature aging in young patients, leading to accelerated mortality.
Since its approval in the US in 2020, Zokinvy has also received authorisation in the European Union and Great Britain in 2022, and most recently in Japan in January this year.
The latest sale comes after Eiger and its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court in April this year.
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Subsequently, an auction was held as part of Eiger’s court-supervised sale process of Zokinvy. Sentynl emerged as the winning bidder for net base price of $45.2m.
The Bankruptcy Court subsequently approved the sale to Sentynl with the transaction finalised on 3 May.
Following the acquisition, Sentynl holds the worldwide rights to Zokinvy and will oversee its manufacturing and commercialisation efforts.
The new deal will bolster Sentynl’s portfolio of biopharmaceutical products for rare and ultra-rare diseases.
Sentynl president and CEO Matt Heck said: “It is an honour to add Zokinvy to our portfolio of products that have a tangible impact on the lives of rare disease patients, whose needs are too often unmet or overlooked.
“We are firmly committed to provide best-in-class global access to Zokinvy and are eager to serve the patients and their families affected by progeria. We are grateful to Eiger and The Progeria Research Foundation for their dedicated effort to develop and secure availability of this life-changing product.”
