Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBIX) and BIAL today announced that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of opicapone in North America. ONGENTYS® (opicapone) is a once-daily, peripherally-acting, highly-selective catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor (COMT inhibitor) that was approved in June 2016 by the European Commission as an adjunct therapy to preparations of levodopa/DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors for adult patients with Parkinson’s disease and end-of-dose motor fluctuations who cannot be stabilized on those combinations.
“Securing the commercial rights to opicapone in the United States and Canada is another important step in expanding our movement disorders franchise,” said Kevin C. Gorman, Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences. “Opicapone is a significant late stage asset with outstanding clinical data and a long period of exclusivity. Upon FDA approval, it will allow us to further leverage our commercial infrastructure and bring much needed relief to the one million people in the United States suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”