GSK plc and SCYNEXIS, Inc. announced they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for Brexafemme (ibrexafungerp tablets), a US FDA approved, first-in-class antifungal for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and for reduction in the incidence of recurrent VVC (RVVC). This exclusive license agreement gives GSK rights to commercialize Brexafemme for VVC and RVVC while continuing to develop ibrexafungerp, which is in phase III clinical trials for the potential treatment of invasive candidiasis (IC), a life-threatening fungal infection.
Infectious diseases and HIV represent around two-thirds of GSK’s pipeline. Brexafemme complements GSK’s first or best-in-class portfolio alongside late-stage antibiotics gepotidacin, potentially the first novel antibiotic for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTI) in over 20 years, and tebipenem, a potential new treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI).
Luke Miels, Chief Commercial Officer, GSK said: “The challenge of antimicrobial resistance includes increasing rates of multi-drug resistant fungal infections. Brexafemme is a novel, approved antifungal medicine with a broad spectrum of activity against existing and emerging resistant strains of fungi. In addition, the transaction consolidates GSK’s synergistic portfolio of innovative late-stage antibiotics.”
VVC affects up to 75% of women at least once, with 40-45% having two or more episodes. Brexafemme has a distinct mechanism of action whereby it kills the fungus, as opposed to some antifungals which inhibit fungal growth. It is the only oral antifungal US FDA-approved treatment for VVC and reduction of RVVC. With rates of resistance to other antifungal treatments rising, Brexafemme addresses a clear unmet need for new oral treatments.
David Angulo, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of SCYNEXIS said: “This agreement represents a major milestone for SCYNEXIS, maximizing Brexafemme’s commercial potential in VVC and further validating our vision of the critical role for this first-in-class antifungal in invasive infections. We are thrilled to partner with GSK on this high-potential asset and will continue progressing ibrexafungerp’s phase III program in invasive candidiasis (IC).”
IC is a life-threatening infection that affects the blood or internal organs. There are around 750,000 cases of IC every year worldwide. In the US, it is one of the most common causes of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients and can lead to more extended hospital stays and higher associated costs.
Financial terms
Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will make an upfront payment to SCYNEXIS of $90 million, plus additional potential milestone-based payments totaling $503 million.
GSK will pay up to $245.5 million if specific development, regulatory, and commercial milestones associated with the IC indication are successfully completed. A further $15 million milestone will be paid upon successful US FDA approval of an additional indication.
GSK will pay sales-related milestone payments based on achieving a certain commercial performance of up to $242.5 million, and mid-single digit to mid-teen digit tiered royalties on the totality of sales across all indications (in both cases with the top tier based on achieving net sales greater than $1 billion).
GSK will also receive an exclusive license to develop ibrexafungerp and commercialize Brexafemme in all countries except the greater China region and certain other countries already out-licensed by SCYNEXIS to third parties. Under the license agreement, SCYNEXIS will continue executing the phase III program for IC and other ongoing trials.
SCYNEXIS retains rights to all other assets derived from enfumafungin. As part of this exclusive license agreement, GSK has been granted a right of first negotiation to these compounds.
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