China Medical System Gains Exclusive Rights to Gout Drug ABP-671
Key Insights
China Medical System (search) secured exclusive rights to commercialize Atom Therapeutics (search)' ABP-671 in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao for gout (search) and hyperuricemia (search) treatment.
ABP-671, a novel URAT1 (search) inhibitor, is currently in Phase 2b/3 clinical trials and has demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profiles in earlier studies.
The agreement spans ten years post-market approval, with a potential ten-year renewal, aligning with CMS's strategic expansion in rheumatology and related fields.
China Medical System (search) Holdings Limited (CMS) has entered into an Exclusive Commercialization Agreement with Atom Therapeutics (search) for ABP-671, a class 1 innovative drug targeting gout (search) and hyperuricemia (search). This agreement, effective from December 2, 2024, grants CMS exclusive rights to commercialize ABP-671 in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Macao Special Administrative Region. The collaboration aims to address the critical need for effective and safe uric acid-lowering treatments in a region with a high prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout.
ABP-671: A Novel URAT1 Inhibitor
ABP-671 is a novel chemotherapeutic drug currently undergoing Phase 2b/3 clinical trials for gout (search) in China and overseas. It functions by inhibiting Urate Anion Transporter 1 (URAT1 (search)), reducing renal re-absorption of uric acid. Phase 2 clinical trials have demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profiles across multiple dose groups (1 mg to 12 mg). Notably, a 2 mg once-daily dosage of ABP-671 has shown comparable or superior efficacy to benzbromarone or febuxostat (maximum dosage of 80mg) in reducing uric acid levels, with sustained effects over a 24-hour period and no significant safety concerns.
Market Need and Strategic Fit
Hyperuricemia (search), characterized by fasting blood uric acid levels exceeding 420 μmol/L (7.0 mg/dL), affects approximately 177 million people in China, with about 14.66 million suffering from gout (search). These conditions can lead to severe complications, including arthritis and damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys. Current uric acid-lowering drugs have limitations in efficacy and safety, creating an urgent demand for better treatment options.
This collaboration fills a gap in CMS's product portfolio for gout (search) treatment and aligns with the company's strategic focus on cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology. If approved, ABP-671 is expected to synergize with CMS's existing products like Metoject (methotrexate injection) in rheumatology and Elcitonin (elcatonin injection) in endocrinology and orthopedics, leveraging established expert networks and market resources.
About Atom Therapeutics
Atom Therapeutics (search), founded in 2012, specializes in developing innovative drugs for metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Their pipeline includes ABP-745, an anti-inflammatory immune drug currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. Atom's core team brings extensive experience in innovative drug R&D, primarily from the United States.