Sunovion, Sumitomo Dainippon, and Otsuka Enter Development and Commercialization Collaboration

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, its parent company Sumitomo Dainippon, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced a joint development and commercialization agreement on Sept. 30, 2021. The agreement focuses on joint development of four of Sunovion’s compounds intended to treat neuropsychiatric health conditions: ulotaront (SEP-363856), non-racemic ratio of amisulpride enantiomers (SEP-4199), SEP-378614, and SEP-380135.

Under the agreement, Sunovion will be paid $270 upon completion of the agreement, with additional payments of up to $620 million upon hitting relevant sales milestone payments. Sunovion and Otsuka will share both profits and expenses produced by the collaboration. Additional terms were not disclosed.

Ulotaront is a trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonist with 5-HTIA agonist activity that is currently in Phase III development for the treatment of schizophrenia. Non-racemic amisulpride (SEP-4199) is in Phase III development for the treatment of major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. SEP-378614 and SEP-380135 are both in Phase I development.

“Otsuka’s recognition of the significant value of these assets reflects the innovative discovery and development efforts at Sunovion over the past decade, as well as our neuropsychiatry commercialization expertise and capabilities,” said Antony Loebel, president and CEO of Sunovion, in an Otsuka press release. “We look forward to working with Otsuka colleagues as we advance novel compounds to treat patients with serious neuropsychiatric conditions.”

"Otsuka has been committed to providing new antipsychotics that contribute to patients worldwide in the field of neuropsychiatry by leveraging internal capabilities and external collaborations, starting with the launch of antipsychotics in the US [United States] in 2002,” said Makoto Inoue, president and representative director of Otsuka, in the press release. “We are advancing in new areas such as the development of drugs to treat agitation associated with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type and the deployment of the world's first digital medicine. Through this agreement, we are confident the companies will be able to deliver even more value to patients through the experience and networks that we have cultivated over many years worldwide.”

Source: Otsuka