Opko Health Inc (NASDAQ: OPK) has moved into an exclusive worldwide agreement with CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation. The two will embark on the manufacture, development, and commercialization of Therapeutics by utilizing the AntagoNAT technology.
Focusing on the AntagoNAT
This company describes AntagoNATs as the oligonucleotide compounds which target non-coding natural antisense transcripts, which cause an upregulation of the most desirable functional protein.
CAMP4 seems more focused on OPKO’s lead AntagoNAT and is prioritizing it. Nevertheless, CAMP4 seeks to take advantage of the substance to dive into the clinical trials to facilitate the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
The terms and conditions of the deal provide that OPKO will receive the shares and an upfront payment of CAMP4. The other thing in line with the deal is that OPKO will become eligible to receive up to $93.5 million. It needs to achieve some particular development and sales milestones for the products made from the technology to obtain the additional shares. Those products must also conform to intellectual property rights.
Frost’s perspective
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO, Phillip Frost, says that they are pretty excited about their entry into the licensing agreement. He sees it as the first step in their efforts to accelerate both the development and commercialization of likely disease-modifying Therapeutics.
Frost believes that CAMP4 has a clear focus on what works and what doesn’t when restoring healthy gene expression. Such focus tells a lot about CAMP4 and its expertise in advancing the Dravet syndrome compound by turning to the necessary patient trials.
Frost opines, “This agreement validates our technology and allows OPKO to focus resources on other areas of our business. We continue to seek license opportunities to monetize and leverage our early-stage assets.”
The Epilepsy Foundation describes the Dravet syndrome as rare, drug-resistant epilepsy, which always strikes its targets during the first year of life. Unfortunately, the phenomenon strikes otherwise healthy infants.