Idorsia has developed a T-type calcium channel blocker in the form of ACT-709478 that should facilitate treatment of a rare form of epilepsy in children. According to a press release, Idorsia has agreed a licensing agreement with Neurocrine Biosciences. As the US company has now decided to take up its option to license the global development and marketing rights to ACT-709478, Idorsia is set to receive fixed payments as part of the agreement.

In this context, the company based in Allschwil receives an upfront payment of 45 million US dollars. Moreover, Idorsia will be entitled to claim milestone payments up to a potential total of 365 million US dollars in addition to tiered royalties dependent on net sales figures. Neurocrine Biosciences is already planning to launch a Phase II study in the second half of 2020.

“If the efficacy of our selective T-type calcium channel blocker seen in preclinical models is confirmed in children with rare pediatric epilepsy, it could transform the life of children with this disease”, comments Martine Clozel, Chief Scientific Officer of Idorsia, in the press release. Furthermore, this is a case where collaborating with a partner allows greater progress to be made in further development processes.