LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - British-based ImmuPharma LLC said on Tuesday it
was signing an option agreement with American biopharmaceutical firm Cephalon
for an exclusive, worldwide licence for its experimental Lupus drug Lupuzor.
Cephalon will pay ImmuPharma $15 million upfront under the option deal.
If the current phase IIb trials are successful and Cephalon exercises the option
ImmuPharma said it would receive a one-time fee, milestone payments and
royalties.
The milestone payments could be worth up to $500 million, Immupharma
said.
"It represents an important landmark for the company and secures the
future for our most advanced asset," said Dimitri Dimitriou, ImmuPharma's chief
executive officer.
ImmuPharma ranks 12 among UK pharmaceutical companies and has a market
capitalisation of around 33 million pounds, ($49.21 million) compared to rivals
SkyePharma and GW Pharmaceuticals with around 33 million pounds and 32 million
respectively.
Its shares, which have outperformed other London-listed pharmaceutical
companies by 61 percent over the past 12 months, were up 35 percent at 57.5
pence at 0812 GMT.
(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
farah.master.reuters.com@reutersnet, +442075424208))
farah.master@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging:
($1=.6706 Pound)
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