Friday, March 31, 2023
GSK and SCYNEXIS announced they have entered into an exclusive licence agreement for Brexafemme (ibrexafungerp tablets), a US FDA approved, first-in-class antifungal for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and for reduction in the incidence of recurrent VVC (RVVC). This exclusive licence agreement gives GSK rights to commercialise Brexafemme for VVC and RVVC while continuing to develop ibrexafungerp, which is in phase III clinical trials for the potential treatment of invasive candidiasis (IC), a life-threatening fungal infection.
Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will make an upfront payment to SCYNEXIS of $90 million, plus additional potential milestone-based payments totalling $503 million. GSK will also receive an exclusive licence to develop ibrexafungerp and commercialise Brexafemme in all countries except the greater China region and certain other countries already out-licenced by SCYNEXIS to third parties. Under the licence agreement, SCYNEXIS will continue executing the phase III programme for IC and other ongoing trials.
Brexafemme is a novel, approved antifungal medicine with a broad spectrum of activity against existing and emerging resistant strains of fungi. Brexafemme has a distinct mechanism of action whereby it kills the fungus, as opposed to some antifungals which inhibit fungal growth. It is the only oral antifungal US FDA-approved treatment for VVC and reduction of RVVC. With rates of resistance to other antifungal treatments rising,Brexafemme addresses a clear unmet need for new oral treatments.
