U.S. biotechnology company Nuvectis announced on June 22 it has acquired exclusive worldwide rights, excluding China, to two late-stage drug candidates from China's Haisco Pharmaceutical in a transaction that could total more than $1.4 billion.
The agreement includes $40 million in upfront and near-term payments for the oral complement Factor B inhibitor NXP100 and the paradox-breaker BRAF inhibitor NXP200. Haisco retains rights for NXP100 in India and certain Southeast Asian regions, according to a company release.
NXP100, previously known as HSK39297, is a once-daily treatment candidate currently under regulatory review in China for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare genetic blood disorder. The drug is also being studied in an ongoing Phase 3 trial for immunoglobulin A nephropathy and was evaluated in a mid-stage study for lupus nephritis. "NXP100 is a late-stage Factor B inhibitor with the potential to become an effective therapy in multiple complement-mediated diseases and provide a convenience advantage as a once-daily oral treatment option for these diseases requiring life-long treatment," said Nuvectis CEO Ron Bentsur.
The PNH market size is projected to surpass $5 billion by 2026, with AstraZeneca’s Alexion injectable C5 inhibitors Soliris and Ultomiris expected to account for most of that market share. Novartis’ Fabhalta launched in 2024 as the only FDA-approved complement Factor B inhibitor; however, Nuvectis believes its newly acquired candidate could offer greater convenience since Fabhalta requires twice-daily dosing. In recent late-stage PNH trials, both NXP100 and Fabhalta demonstrated superiority over C5 inhibitors with comparable efficacy between them, according to Nuvectis.
NXP200 (HSK42360) is described as an oral paradox-breaker BRAF inhibitor intended to be more selective than older versions by avoiding activation of certain cell pathways. It is being investigated in China through a Phase 1b study targeting solid tumor malignancies with specific BRAF mutations including colorectal cancer, melanoma, and non-small-cell lung cancer.
Under the terms of the agreement, Haisco may receive up to $1.42 billion based on development milestones plus tiered royalties if conditions are met; closing depends on Nuvectis meeting financing requirements necessary to advance these products further.
