On January 25, 2018 Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, reported it has received its first payment of approximately $2,200,000 from Gebro Holding GmBH (Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, JAN 25, 2018, View Source [SID1234523563]). Can-Fite recently announced entering into a distribution agreement with Gebro for the exclusive right to distribute to distribute Can-Fite’s lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson (CF101), for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in 3 European countries including Spain, Switzerland and Austria, upon receipt of regulatory approvals. The recently signed Gebro distribution agreement adds to the distribution agreements for Piclidenoson that the company already has in place with Cipher Pharmaceuticals (for the distribution of Piclidenoson in Canada for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis) and Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical (for the distribution of Piclidenoson in Korea for rheumatoid arthritis).
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Under the terms of the distribution agreement, Gebro is making a total upfront and milestone payment of approximately $2,200,000 to Can-Fite. In addition, the agreement provides that additional payments of up to approximately $7,000,000 will be received by Can-Fite upon the achievement of certain regulatory, launch and sales milestones plus double digit royalty payments on net sales.
Gebro Pharma is a privately-owned leading pharma group founded in Austria in the late 1940s with over 500 employees. Its headquarters are located in Fieberbrunn (Austria), where Gebro is a top local leading player, with commercial operations in Spain and Switzerland. In Spain, Gebro is ranked among the top growing companies within the Pharma sector. The therapeutic focus of Gebro is pain with a strong franchise in rheumatology and in Spain, Gebro is ranked nº1 in rheumatology and pain. Alongside, rheumatology and pain, Gebro has also built a portfolio around dermatology, urology, respiratory, GI, and CV depending on the territory.
"We are pleased to receive this upfront and milestone payment of $2,200,000 from Gebro and look towards future potential milestone payments as we advance Piclidenoson through completion of our current Phase III trials in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman. Can-Fite recently initiated patient enrolment for its Phase III ACRobat trial of Piclidenoson for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
The rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis therapeutic market is dominated by biological drugs that are primarily administered via intravenous injection (IV) and have potential side effects. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are huge unmet need markets, where rheumatoid arthritis is estimated to reach $35B in 2020 and psoriasis is forecast to reach $9B in 2018.