Former Sanofi subsidiary Zentiva has signed off on up to 220 million euros for the rights to commercialize and manufacture an ex-AstraZeneca asset for gastric-acid-related diseases in Europe.
Under the terms of the deal, Zentiva is paying Cinclus Pharma 13 million euros upfront, with a near-term milestone payment of 5 million euros to follow next year, according to a May 22 release. The total possible value of the agreement, at 220 million euros, includes the upfront payment and all commercial and regulatory milestones.
In return, Zentiva has secured the rights to commercialize and manufacture linaprazan glurate in Europe. Cinclus can also receive tiered double-digit royalties on net sales in Europe. The partnership applies to the U.K., Switzerland and all the countries in the European Economic Area.
“This alliance establishes a fully integrated set of capabilities covering everything necessary to bring linaprazan glurate to the market across Europe,” Cinclus CEO Christer Ahlberg said in the release. “This collaboration not only de-risks our path to European approval but also positions us to capture significant global value, particularly in the U.S. market where we retain full commercial rights and see a substantial commercial opportunity.”
Linaprazan glurate is a potassium-competitive acid blocker that Cinclus is developing for severe erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (eGERD). Cinclus, which is based in Sweden, plans to test the asset in a phase 3 trial starting in the third quarter of this year.
Linaprazan glurate was approved by Chinese regulators as a GERD treatment in December 2024, and Cinclus has previously set out plans to launch the drug itself in China this year.
eGERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, damaging the gastric tube’s lining. The condition can cause heartburn, trouble swallowing and chest pain, among other symptoms.
Linaprazan was initially developed by AstraZeneca and tested in phase 1 and 2 trials between 2001 and 2005, according to Cinclus’ website. Cinclus was founded in 2014 by a group of former AstraZeneca employees who wanted to take the molecule further after the Big Pharma lost interest in the drug.
Cinclus unveiled data from a phase 2 dose-selection study of linaprazan in November 2022. The study compared linaprazan with over-the-counter competitor lansoprazole but was not statistically powered to test whether there was a significant difference between the two, Cinclus said at the time. A post hoc analysis of the data found that eGERD patients treated with linaprazan glurate had higher rates of healing, as assessed by an endoscopic evaluation, than those given lansoprazole, Cinclus said.
Zentiva also has a history with Big Pharma; the Czech drugmaker was a subsidiary of Sanofi from 2008 to 2018, with a focus on generics. Zentiva was acquired by private equity firm Advent International in 2018 and is now taking a turn into brand-name products.
“This partnership marks a key milestone for Zentiva as we continue expanding our portfolio beyond generics into high-value specialty medicines,” Zentiva Chief Scientific Officer Martin Albert said in the release. “Linaprazan glurate is a complementary asset that perfectly fits our strategy to leverage our excellence in generics and deliver game-changing treatments to patients across Europe.”