Next-Generation Candidate 'Aneratrigine' to Accelerate Development with Niroda in the U.S.
Proprietary Ion Channel Drug Discovery Platform 'VITVO' Demonstrates Technological Strength
Daewoong Pharmaceutical's new drug development subsidiary, iNt Therapeutics, announced on December 18 that it has signed a technology export agreement with the U.S.-based Niroda Therapeutics for 'Aneratrigine,' a next-generation non-opioid analgesic candidate independently developed by the company. The deal is valued at approximately 750 billion KRW (over 500 million USD).
iNt Therapeutics secured an upfront payment upon signing the agreement and is expected to receive additional milestone payments, including short-term milestones within the next 18 months, as well as royalties.
iNt Therapeutics specializes in developing novel drugs for neurological disorders targeting 'ion channels,' which serve as gateways for electrical signals between cells. The company possesses 'VITVO,' a proprietary ion channel drug discovery platform that has identified multiple drug candidates, including Aneratrigine.
Currently, the so-called 'Opioid Crisis,' a public health emergency caused by the abuse of opioid analgesics, continues in the United States and globally, leading to a significant increase in demand for non-opioid painkillers.
Aneratrigine is a non-opioid analgesic candidate with no risk of excessive dependence or abuse. It precisely targets and inhibits 'NaV1.7,' an ion channel that plays a key role in chronic pain modulation. In the non-opioid analgesics market, there are still no clearly effective treatments for chronic and neuropathic pain.
Niroda, the partner company, was jointly founded by leading U.S. venture capital firms Population Health Partners, F-Prime Capital, and Lilly Asia Ventures. The company boasts a team of veterans with decades of experience in ion channel drug development, raising expectations that iNt Therapeutics' candidate and technology can be successfully commercialized.
Under this agreement, Niroda will exclusively secure the rights for global clinical development and commercialization of Aneratrigine in key markets such as the United States and Europe. iNt Therapeutics will retain rights in certain Asian regions, including Korea and China. The company's ongoing Phase 2 clinical programs in Korea and Europe will be realigned to fit Niroda's global development strategy.
iNt Therapeutics and Niroda plan to develop NaV1.7 inhibitors and NaV1.8 inhibitors-which play complementary roles in pain signal transmission-as monotherapies or combination therapies, aiming to provide broad therapeutic coverage and superior pain relief options.
Park Jongdeok, CEO of iNt Therapeutics, stated, "This agreement is a significant achievement that recognizes the global commercial potential of our ion channel platform technology. The secured funds will be actively reinvested into our subsequent pipelines, such as treatments for hearing loss and brain disorders. We will also gradually strengthen our in-house commercialization capabilities with the goal of an initial public offering (IPO) in 2027."
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