US-based pharmaceutical company Viatris has signed an exclusive licencing agreement with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, gaining rights of sotagliflozin in all markets outside of the US and Europe.
Sotagliflozin is an oral inhibitor targeting two key proteins involved in glucose regulation, sodium-glucose cotransporter types 2 and 1 (SGLT2 and SGLT1).
SGLT2 is responsible for glucose and sodium reabsorption by the kidney and SGLT1 for glucose and sodium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
Under the terms of the agreement, Viatris will acquire rights to sotagliflozin in all global markets outside of the US and Europe, in exchange for an upfront payment of $25m.
Lexicon will receive additional contingent milestone payments and tiered royalties, and will be responsible for the clinical and commercial supply of sotagliflozin to Viatris.
Viatris will be responsible for all regulatory and commercialisation activities for sotagliflozin in the licenced territories.
The agreement leverages its expertise in cardiovascular diseases and its Global Healthcare Gateway, which provides access to more markets and patients worldwide, said Viatris.
Viatris chief commercial officer Corinne Le Goff said: “This licencing agreement with Lexicon adds another asset to our expanding innovative portfolio in cardiovascular diseases which gives us the opportunity to further drive accelerated and durable revenue growth in the future.
“We believe we will be able to leverage our strong foundation in cardiovascular diseases and our unique infrastructure to execute on the potential of sotagliflozin.”
Sotagliflozin has been studied in multiple patient populations encompassing heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in clinical studies involving around 20,000 patients.
In May last year, Lexicon secured the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for sotagliflozin to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure.
It is indicated for adults with heart failure or type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
According to Lexicon, sotagliflozin has been studied in multiple patient populations, including those with heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, involving around 20,000 patients.
Lexicon CEO and director Mike Eaton said: “We are pleased to be working with Viatris, a company with strong cardiometabolic expertise, global commercial capabilities and a successful track record of launching medicines in new territories.
“We are confident that this agreement will expand the reach of sotagliflozin to more patients in need. Partnering with high-quality companies to support the commercialisation of our medicines globally is a critical pillar of our Lead to Succeed strategy at Lexicon.
“We plan to continue to evaluate strategic partnerships for additional assets, territories and indications to augment Lexicon’s development and commercial capabilities, advance our pipeline and expand access to our medicines to more patients around the world.”
