ZURICH, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Vifor Pharma
on Monday agreed to pay United States-based Angion
Biomedica up to $80 million for rights to experimental kidney
drug ANG-3777.
Angion's ANG-3777 is in late-stage trials to determine
whether it helps kidney transplant patients at risk of impaired
functioning of the donated organ. It is also in an earlier-stage
study for acute kidney injury associated with cardiac surgery.
The licensing deal includes a $30 million up-front payment,
a $30 million equity investment in Angion and $20 million in
milestone payments, as well as up to $260 million in other
milestones upon U.S. and EU approval. Further royalties are also
possible, the Swiss company said.
Vifor is seeking to boost its nephrology portfolio, where it
already has drugs in trials for anaemia due to chronic kidney
disease and vasculitis. The company also has a joint venture
with Germany's Fresenius to provide products and
services for chronic kidney disease patients.
Data from the trial of ANG-3777 in patients with
transplant-associated acute kidney injury is due in the second
half of next year. The Angion deal with Vifor excludes China,
where the U.S. company already has a pact with Sinovant
Sciences.
(Reporting by John Miller
Editing by David Goodman)