Santhera Pharmaceuticals AG, Takeda deal

Takeda received rights to commercialize idebenone ( SNT-MC17) in the EU and Switzerland to treat Friedreich’s ataxia, a neuromuscular disease. Takeda will pay Santhera EUR 5 million ($6.1 million) up front, plus potential milestones and royalties. Santhera is responsible for clinical development and will retain U.S. marketing rights.

Santhera holds a U.S. use patent covering idebenone for the indication. Takeda previously had been developing the compound for another indication, for which it is no longer under patent. ...