Vifor Pharma, Travere Reach Deal For Commercialization Of Kidney Disease Medicine Sparsentan

(RTTNews) - Vifor Pharma Group and Travere Therapeutics Inc. (TVTX) have reached a joint collaboration and licensing agreement to commercialize sparsentan in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the companies said in a statement.

Sparsentan is a novel investigational product candidate currently being evaluated in pivotal phase-III clinical studies for the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN), two rare progressive kidney disorders and leading causes of end-stage kidney disease. There are currently no approved medicines indicated for FSGS or IgAN.

Sparsentan has been granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of IgAN and FSGS in the U.S. and Europe.

As per the terms of the deal, Vifor Pharma will receive exclusive commercialization rights for sparsentan in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Travere will receive an upfront payment of $55 million and be eligible for up to $135 million in payments tied to the achievement of certain regulatory and market access related milestones. Vifor Pharma will also make further payments in the form of sales milestones, and tiered double-digit royalties on net sales of sparsentan in Europe, Australia and New Zealand up to 40 percent at the high end of the royalty range.