French Pharmaceutical company Ipsen penned an exclusive worldwide right for development and commercialization for IRLAB’s mesdopetam, an investigational treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease experiencing levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). A common side-effect of levodopa is dyskinesia, involuntary movements. It is estimated that 40-50% of the Parkinson’s disease patient cohort develop LID following five years of dopamine replacement treatment.
Mesdopetam is a dopamine D3 receptor antagonist and has completed Phase Ib and IIa clinical studies with results indicating positive improvements in patients with Parkinson’s disease experiencing levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID).
As per the agreement, IRLAB will continue its research activities and will be responsible for the ongoing Phase IIb trial while Ipsen will initiate Phase III preparatory activities and will be responsible for all remaining clinical development and worldwide commercialization. IRLAB will be receiving USD 363 million in total which includes USD 28 million upfront payment followed by USD 335 development, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments. IRLAB will also be receiving tiered low double-digit royalties on the worldwide sales of the drug.
Ipsen, a research and development focused company has developed a wide portfolio of products in segments of rare diseases, oncology and neuroscience. The current partnership with IRLAB, a Swedish firm, focally developing novel Parkinson’s treatments, for mesdopetam, will expand Ipsen’s neuronal product pipeline, a segment that contributed to approximately 15% earnings in 2020. IRLAB is also investigating effects of D3 antagonist for treatment for Parkinson’s patients with psychosis. The partnership with IRLAB enable IPSEN step into other segments in CNS space and commercialise drugs to meet currently unmet needs.