Santarus and Norgine have entered into a licensing agreement granting exclusive rights to Norgine to develop, manufacture and commercialise prescription immediate-release Zegerid products. It incorporates the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole in combination with one or more buffering agents, in specified markets in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.
Under the license agreement, Norgine will pay Santarus a $2.5m upfront fee. Santarus will also be entitled to receive up to an additional $10m in milestone payments upon the achievement of certain regulatory events, subject to reductions based on Norgine’s actual out-of pocket costs directly related to its clinical, regulatory and reimbursement efforts for a major country.
Moreover, Norgine will also pay Santarus tiered royalties ranging from the mid- to high-teens, subject to reduction in certain limited circumstances, on net sales of any products sold under the license agreement.
Peter Stein, CEO of Norgine, said, “This license agreement with Santarus supports our objective to use our European infrastructure to bring innovative products to our markets. We look forward to developing Zegerid immediate-release omeprazole products in the markets covered under our agreement.”