Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika sign ustekinumab deal with Intas

[DONG-A ST]

Dong-A ST and Tokyo’s Meiji Seika Pharma have signed a deal with Ahmedabad, India’s Intas Pharmaceuticals to license DMB-3115, a biosimilar referencing psoriasis treatment Stelara, the Korean company announced Wednesday.

DMB-3115 is identical to ustekinumab, better known as Stelara from Belgium’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Stelara’s patent expires in September 2023 in the United States and January 2024 for most parts of Europe.

Dong-A Socio Holdings, which owns 23.3 percent of Dong-A ST, started developing the drug jointly with Meiji Seika Pharma in 2013. The company transferred development and commercialization rights to Dong-A ST in July last year.

Under the agreement with Intas, Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma will receive a $10 million upfront payment and a potential $95 million in milestone payments, according to the Korean company. They are also eligible to receive double-digit royalties based on the drug's future sales. Dong-A Socio Holdings and Dong-A ST will share half the revenue and Meiji Seika Pharma receive the other half.

The deal gives the Indian pharmaceutical company the right to sell the drug worldwide, excluding some Asian countries such as Korea and Japan. Distribution of the drug will be handled by Britain-based Accord Healthcare.

Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma will continue to develop the drug and maintain the exclusive rights. If commercialized, the drug will be manufactured by DM Bio, 51 percent owned by Dong-A Socio Holdings and 49 percent by Meiji Seika Pharma. It specializes in contract development and manufacturing organization business.

Phase 3 clinical trials started in the first quarter in the United States and many European countries, including Poland, Estonia and Latvia. The Korean company said it plans to conduct the Phase 3 clinical trials in a total of nine countries in Europe.

“With the deal with Intas Pharmaceuticals, a company that has a wealth of experience in global biopharmaceutical market, Dong-A Socio Holdings was able to gain a foothold to achieve our 2025 vision to become a global healthcare company by securing competitiveness in all sectors,” said a spokesperson for Dong-A ST. “We will make all efforts to succeed the Phase 3 clinical trials globally.”

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]