Genfit SA (GNFT) has seen a push of 7.86% in the aftermarket following the announcement of a global strategic partnership. However, the last trading session closed at $5.09 with an increase of 53.31%.
Global Strategic Partnership – All About it
GNFT announced on 17th December 2021 that it has acquired exclusive rights from Genoscience Pharma to research and market the experimental medicine GNS561 in cholangiocarcinoma in the United States, Canada, and Europe, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Cholangiocarcinoma is an orphan illness, and GNS561 is a new clinical-stage autophagy/PPT1 inhibitor developed by Genoscience Pharma. It has completed preclinical investigations as well as a Phase 1b study, proving the justification for targeting cholangiocarcinoma, a rare liver cancer with a high fatality rate and few therapeutic choices.
What’s up?
The license arrangement with Genoscience Pharma is a direct result of the worldwide strategic relationship that was established. The proceeds from this strategic partnership will support the long-term growth and pipeline extension, as evidenced by the acquisition of GNS561’s cholangiocarcinoma rights. Moreover, this move is in line with the strategic goals, as it expands the asset portfolio within the cholestatic illness brand by adding an innovative medication candidate that has the potential to address significant unmet patient needs.
The scientific reasoning, as well as preclinical studies evidence, justify the asset’s future development, and GNFT intends to begin a Phase 2 program in the first half of 2022. In addition, the mode of action of GNS561 appears to be quite promising. The company will communicate with regulatory bodies to seek faster avenues to approval beyond Phase 2 given the existing landscape, level of care, lack of marketed choices, and based on KOL opinions.
Licensing Agreement for Elafibranor – What’s new?
On 17th December 2021, GNFT announced that it has signed a strategic partnership with Ipsen. Ipsen now has an exclusive worldwide license to develop, produce, and market GENFIT’s experimental therapy elafibranor for persons with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC). Moreover, Ipsen will have access to future clinical projects managed by GENFIT, and the agreement will combine GENFIT’s scientific knowledge and patented technology in liver disease with Ipsen’s development and commercialization skills. To demonstrate the partnership’s long-term commitment, Ipsen will invest €28 million in GENFIT, becoming one of the company’s major owners, and will acquire freshly issued GENFIT shares representing 8% post-issuance.
