Actimed Therapeutics has regained worldwide rights to its muscle-wasting therapy S-oxprenolol, giving the company full control over the program while forgoing the opportunity to receive more than $120 million in potential milestone payments.
The U.K.-based biotech originally licensed certain rights to the anabolic-catabolic transforming agent (ACTA) to Seattle-based Faraday Pharmaceuticals in 2021 in exchange for an upfront payment of $550,000. Under that agreement, Faraday obtained rights to develop S-oxprenolol for cancer cachexia and other indications outside amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with the deal carrying the potential for up to $126 million in milestone payments.
Since then, Actimed has reported preclinical findings indicating that S-oxprenolol may deliver meaningful improvements in survival, body weight and functional outcomes in ALS.
More About the Deal
The company announced Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Faraday to reclaim all rights to the therapy. As a result, Actimed now holds global development, manufacturing and commercialization rights, giving it complete strategic oversight of the asset and greater flexibility to maximize its potential across multiple indications.
Chief Executive Officer Robin Bhattacherjee said the company believes S-oxprenolol could play an important role in treating muscle wasting and cachexia associated with ALS, which remains the primary focus of the program.
Further Insights by the CEO
Bhattacherjee added that the therapy has already received orphan drug designation for ALS-related cachexia and that Actimed intends to begin clinical development once the required Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) work is completed. He also said the company is exploring the drug’s broader potential across other muscle-wasting disorders, noting that regaining full ownership increases Actimed’s strategic options for future development and commercialization.
Actimed’s lead clinical program remains another anabolic-catabolic transforming agent, S-pindolol benzoate, which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for cachexia in patients with colorectal or non-small cell lung cancer, as well as for its effects on lean body mass in obese patients receiving Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
Actimed’s Recent Appointment
It has been a few busy days for Actimed, as the firm announced the appointment of Dr. Anders Ullman to its Board of Directors last week. Ullman is a physician, clinical pharmacologist and pharmaceutical executive with more than three decades of international experience spanning drug discovery, clinical development and corporate leadership. During his career, he has held senior leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer and AstraZeneca.
Bhattacherjee said the company is pleased to welcome Ullman to its board at an important stage of its growth. He noted that Ullman’s broad expertise in clinical development, pharmaceutical research and development, and corporate leadership, together with his proven ability to guide innovative medicines through development, will provide valuable support as Actimed progresses its clinical programs targeting obesity, cancer cachexia and other muscle-wasting issues
Ullman said he is pleased to join Actimed’s Board at a pivotal point in the company’s growth. He added that Actimed is developing innovative treatments for muscle-wasting disorders, an area that continues to present considerable unmet medical needs as well as significant clinical and commercial opportunities.
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Actimed Takes Back Drug Rights
Actimed has reclaimed rights to its wasting disease drug after its previously announced $126 million Faraday deal fell through. The development gives Actimed greater control over the future direction of the therapy.
Wasting disease can significantly affect patients by causing progressive loss of body weight, muscle mass, appetite, and physical strength. In people with serious underlying illnesses, these effects can make treatment more difficult and negatively influence daily life.
Developing effective therapies for wasting conditions has remained challenging because the condition can involve several biological processes at the same time. Appetite changes, inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and muscle loss may all contribute to disease progression.
A Changing Development Landscape
The end of the previous licensing arrangement creates a different development landscape for the therapy. Control of the program can allow its owner to reassess the available clinical data and determine the most appropriate path forward.
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