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Arcutis and Huadong Announce Strategic Collaboration and Licensing Agreement for Topical Roflumilast in Greater China and Southeast Asia
Arcutis to receive $30 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive potential development and commercial milestone payments, as well as double digit
About this update from Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Arcutis to receive $30 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive potential development and commercial milestone payments, as well as double digit tiered royalties WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. and HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQT), an early commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing meaningful innovations in immuno-dermatology, and Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. (SZ.000963), today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement for the development, manufacture, and commercialization of topical roflumilast in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam). Huadong will receive an exclusive license for both the cream and foam formulations of topical roflumilast, a next generation phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, for multiple dermatological conditions including plaque psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis, and potentially additional dermatological conditions in the future. “This collaboration provides Arcutis access to the second largest pharmaceutical market in the world, providing an unparalleled opportunity to help individuals in this region suffering from immune-mediated skin diseases, and provides meaningful non-dilutive capital for us. With Huadong’s deep dermatology and regional expertise, we are confident they are the ideal partner to develop and commercialize topical roflumilast for multiple dermatological indications in the Greater China and Southeast Asia markets,” said Frank Watanabe, President and Chief Executive Officer, Arcutis. “This collaboration provides further validation of topical roflumilast’s potential to be an effective and well-tolerated steroid-free treatment option for millions of people.” “Arcutis is a leader in medical dermatology with a successful launch of topical roflumilast cream in plaque psoriasis and three additional successful Phase 3 programs completed in seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and scalp and body psoriasis in the United States. We are honored to partner with Arcutis to bring topical roflumilast to the Greater...