Merz Therapeutics Partners with Kvvit to Bring INBRIJA Parkinson's Treatment to Greater China
核心洞察
Merz Therapeutics (搜索) and Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical (搜索) have entered an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize INBRIJA (levodopa inhalation powder) for Parkinson's disease (搜索) patients in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
INBRIJA is an FDA and EMA-approved inhaled levodopa medication designed to treat episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult Parkinson's patients already receiving levodopa therapy.
Under the partnership, Kvvit will lead local clinical development and regulatory activities while Merz retains global product quality responsibility and will receive upfront payments plus milestone and royalty arrangements.
Merz Therapeutics (搜索) GmbH and Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical (搜索) Co. Ltd. have announced an exclusive license and collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize INBRIJA® (levodopa inhalation powder) for treating episodic motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease (搜索) patients across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. The partnership aims to expand access to this innovative inhaled therapy for patients experiencing OFF episodes while on standard levodopa treatment.
Strategic Partnership Structure
Under the collaboration agreement, Merz will supply INBRIJA® and maintain responsibility for global product quality and key regulatory activities. Kvvit will lead development, regulatory activities, and commercialization in the licensed territory under a jointly agreed China Development Plan. Merz will serve as the Overseas Holder of the Drug Registration Certificate, while Kvvit will act as the Domestic Responsible Person, funding local clinical development and regulatory submissions.
"We are pleased to partner with Kvvit to potentially bring INBRIJA® to people living with Parkinson's disease (搜索) in Greater China," said Andrea von der Lippe, President, Region International Markets at Merz. "Kvvit's local development and commercial capabilities, combined with Merz's experience with INBRIJA®, create a strong foundation to expand access to an additional treatment option for patients experiencing OFF episodes."
Financial Terms and Market Access
Merz Therapeutics (搜索) will receive an upfront payment, development and commercial milestone payments, and tiered supply and royalty arrangements linked to commercial performance in the territory. INBRIJA® is currently not approved in China, Hong Kong, and Macao, with any potential approval dependent on successful clinical development and regulatory review in the licensed territory.
Yang Lizhen, VP of Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical (搜索) Co. Ltd., emphasized the company's commitment to neurological disease treatment: "Kvvit is always committed to providing outstanding services for human health. Based in China and with a global perspective, it hopes to offer patients more valuable and innovative treatment plans for neurological diseases."
INBRIJA's Clinical Profile
INBRIJA® received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018 and the European Medicines Agency in 2019. The inhaled prescription levodopa medication is indicated for the intermittent treatment of episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult patients with Parkinson's disease (搜索) who are already treated with a levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase (搜索) inhibitor.
The therapy's unique delivery mechanism offers potential clinical advantages. As INBRIJA® is delivered directly to the lung, absorption of the medicine is not affected by meals or other Parkinson's disease (搜索)-associated conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract that can impact oral medications.
Company Backgrounds
Merz Therapeutics (搜索) GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, operates in more than 80 countries and focuses on delivering innovative treatments for movement disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, liver disease, and other conditions that severely impact patients' quality of life. The company is part of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned company with a 117-year legacy.
Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical (搜索) Co., Ltd., established in 2021, is a controlled subsidiary of QF Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. The company has been recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise and has built a global innovation and R&D system focusing on core therapeutic areas including the central nervous system, anti-infectives, antineoplastic agents, and digestive systems. Kvvit maintains a presence in nearly 30 countries and regions worldwide.