Bayer to Acquire KaNDy Therapeutics for $875 Million to Obtain Novel Non-Hormonal Oral Therapy NT-814 for Menopausal Symptoms

Source | Jike Yaowen

On August 11, Bayer and clinical-stage biotechnology company KaNDy Therapeutics jointly announced that Bayer would acquire the latter to expand its drug development pipeline in women’s healthcare. KaNDy Therapeutics recently completed the Phase IIb clinical study of NT-814 and released positive data on its efficacy in treating menopause-related symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats (vasomotor symptoms). The Phase III clinical trial of NT-814 is expected to begin in 2021. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer will make an upfront payment of $425 million, potential milestone payments of up to $450 million, and subsequent potential additional three-digit sales milestone payments. The acquisition is expected to be completed as early as September 2020.

Up to 75% of menopausal women experience vasomotor symptoms, which can impair their professional and personal lives and cause debilitation for several years. NT-814 is a first-in-class, non-hormonal, once-daily oral neurokinin-1 and -3 receptor (NK1R/NK3R) antagonist that addresses vasomotor symptoms by modulating a group of estrogen-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus known as KNDy neurons. In postmenopausal women, these neurons become hyperactive due to estrogen deficiency, disrupting thermoregulatory mechanisms and leading to vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. Upon approval, NT-814 has the potential to achieve global peak sales exceeding €1 billion.

The acquisition of KaNDy Therapeutics marks another significant milestone in Bayer’s expansion of its women’s healthcare portfolio through strategic collaborations and agreements. In early 2020, Bayer announced an expanded partnership with Evotec to embark on a new five-year collaboration aimed at developing multiple clinical candidates for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women. In January 2020, Bayer entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Daré Bioscience for the U.S. market, focusing on an investigational, non-hormonal, once-monthly vaginal contraceptive currently in clinical development.

References:

[1] Bayer to acquire UK-based biotech KaNDy Therapeutics Ltd.. Retrieved 2020-08-11, from https://media.bayer.com/baynews/baynews.nsf/id/Bayer-to-acquire-UK-based-biotech-KaNDy-Therapeutics-Ltd?OpenDocument&sessionID=1597125562

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