Santhera Licenses Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonist Program to BioLineRx
Santhera Pharmaceuticals announced an exclusive license agreement with BioLineRx, covering Santhera's pre-clinical melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R) antagonist program currently in development for the treatment of cancer cachexia. Under the agreement, BioLineRx acquires all rights to develop, sub-license and commercialize the compound. BioLineRx will cover all future costs of the program. Santhera will receive 22% to 25% of all BioLineRx's sub-licensing income or royalties on future sales by BioLineRx. The out-licensing deal is in line with Santhera's strategy to focus on its core late stage or marketed assets: Catena®, fipamezole and omigapil.
The preclinical activity spectrum of orally active MC-4R antagonists indicates beneficial efficacy in all key aspects of cachexia such as lack of appetite, increased resting energy expenditure and enhanced catabolism. The latest generation of compounds increased food intake 3- to 5-fold and inhibited the development of cachexia in a disease-relevant animal tumor model.
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