Enanta Pharmaceuticals signs $440 million collaboration and license agreement with Novartis

Enanta Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has entered into an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Novartis for the worldwide development, manufacture and commercialization of its lead development candidate, EDP-239, from its NS5A hepatitis C virus inhibitor program. Enanta has received IND approval for EDP-239 from the FDA. Under the terms of the agreement, Enanta will receive an upfront payment of $34 million and is eligible to receive up to $406 million if clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones are met. Enanta is also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties on worldwide sales of products, and retains co-detail rights in the United States. Novartis will be responsible for all costs associated with the development, manufacture and commercialization of EDP-239 and will fund Enanta’s drug discovery efforts on certain additional compounds targeting NS5A.