Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk and Omeros have signed a licensing deal worth up to $2.1 billion for the U.S.-based company\u2019s experimental drug, which is being developed for rare blood and kidney disorders, they said on Wednesday.
\nOmeros shares more than doubled to $9.90 in morning trading.<\/p>\n
As part of the agreement, Novo gains exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize Omeros\u2019 drug zaltenibart, designed to inhibit MASP-3 \u2014 a protein that acts as a key activator of the alternative pathway of complement.<\/p>\n
The complement pathway is a system of proteins in the blood that enhances the immune system\u2019s ability to fight infections.
\nOmeros is eligible to receive up to a total of $2.1 billion, including $340 million upfront and near-term milestone payments.<\/p>\n
The company had said in March it began enrollment for late-stage trials studying the drug for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disorder in which part of the immune system attacks and damages the red blood cells and platelets.<\/p>\n
Zaltenibart has shown several potential advantages over other alternative pathway inhibitors currently in development or on the market, the companies said.<\/p>\n
The drug was safe and well tolerated in the trials.
\nAfter the deal closes, expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, Novo aims to start a global program for zaltenibart in PNH and explore development in a range of other rare blood and kidney disorders.<\/p>\n
Omeros remains focused on securing approval for its other experimental drug, narsoplimab, this quarter.<\/p>\n
The company is pursuing approval for narsoplimab in the U.S. and in Europe to treat transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, a complication that can arise after hematopoietic cell transplantation.<\/p>\n
Omeros also retains certain rights to its preclinical MASP-3 programs unrelated to zaltenibart, including the ability to develop and commercialize small-molecule MASP-3 inhibitors with limited indication restrictions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk and Omeros have signed a licensing deal worth up to $2.1 billion for the U.S.-based company\u2019s experimental drug, which is being developed for rare blood and kidney disorders, they said on Wednesday. Omeros shares more than doubled to $9.90 in morning trading. As part of the agreement, Novo gains exclusive global […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[683],"class_list":{"0":"post-2234","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sitefansalaran-industry-news","8":"tag-novo-nordisk-signs-up-to-2-1-billion-licensing-deal-with-omeros-in-rare-disease-push"},"yoast_head":"\n