The biopharmaceutical companies, Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. and Tripex Pharmaceuticals, have signed an agreement under which Raptor will acquire Tripex’s Quinsair, an inhaled fluoroquinolone approved for the management of chronic pulmonary infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Under the agreement, Raptor will pay $68.4 million upfront, with up to $34.2 million of the closing consideration payable in Raptor common stock at Raptor’s election plus contingent payments of up to $350 million associated with development, regulatory,and commercial milestones, a portion of which is payable in Raptor common stock at Raptor’s election, and a single-digit royalty on future global net sales. In addition, Raptor will have single-digit contingent obligations to two additional parties involved in Quinsair’s development. Raptor is acquiring exclusive global rights and assets to develop, manufacture, and commercialize Quinsair. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015, subject to customary closing conditions including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Quinsair received marketing authorization by the European Commission and Health Canada in March 2015 and June 2015, respectively. Quinsair, a twice-a-day treatment, contains levofloxacin, an antimicrobial active against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Raptor plans to launch Quinsair in Europe and Canada in the first half of 2016 and to discuss the path to potential approval in the same indication in the US with the the US Food and Drug Administration in 2016.

In addition to cystic fibrosis, Quinsair has development potential in two additional orphan disease: bronchiectasis (BE) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung infections, for which there are currently few therapeutic options. BE is characterized by abnormal dilatation and destruction of lung bronchi and bronchioles due to chronic recurring infection and long-term inflammation that leads to frequent hospitalizations. NTM are a group of microbes that cause severe and recurrent lung infections, often in individuals who are immune-compromised or who have structural lung disease, such as bronchiectasis. Raptor is evaluating Quinsair’s potential in these therapeutic indications and intends to initiate clinical programs in 2016 in at least one of the indications.

Source: Raptor Pharmaceutical