Ipsen Pays up to $855M for Exelixis Cancer Drug

March 2, 2016

Exelixis, Inc. and Ipsen announced an exclusive licensing agreement for the commercialization and further development of cabozantinib, Exelixis’ lead oncology drug. Ipsen will have exclusive commercialization rights for current and potential future cabozantinib indications outside the United States, Canada and Japan, including COMETRIQ, which is currently approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with progressive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

The companies have agreed to collaborate on the development of cabozantinib for current and potential future indications. Exelixis will maintain exclusive commercial rights for cabozantinib in the United States and Canada, and continue its discussions to partner commercial rights in Japan.

Under the agreement, Exelixis will receive a $200 million upfront payment, according to a press release. Exelixis is eligible to receive regulatory milestones, including a $60 million milestone upon the approval of cabozantinib in Europe for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and $50 million upon the filing and approval of cabozantinib in Europe for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as additional regulatory milestones for potential further indications. The agreement also includes up to $545 million of potential commercial milestones and provides for Exelixis to receive tiered royalties up to 26% on Ipsen’s net sales of cabozantinib in its territories.

Read the full release