BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Ligand, Retrophin deal

March 4, 2013 8:00 AM UTC

Ligand received a $1.4 million milestone payment from Retrophin under a 2012 deal granting Retrophin an exclusive, worldwide sublicense to RE-021. Ligand said the payment was a "time-based milestone." Under the deal, Ligand is eligible for over $75 million in milestones, plus 9% royalties on sales of the product (see BioCentury, Feb. 27, 2012).

RE-021 (formerly DARA) is a small molecule dual angiotensin and endothelin receptor antagonist. Ligand said Retrophin plans to start the Phase II FONT-3 trial this half to evaluate RE-021 in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a disease that attacks the kidney's glomeruli and causes scarring, progressive kidney function degeneration. Ligand acquired the product through its 2008 acquisition of Pharmacopeia Inc. (see BioCentury, Jan. 5, 2009). ...