Amneal Enters into Exclusive European Licensing Agreement with Zambon Biotech for IPX203

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. & CADEMPINO, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRX) (“Amneal” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Zambon Biotech SA, part of the Zambon group (“Zambon”), for IPX203 in the European Union, United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

IPX203 is a novel, oral formulation of carbidopa/levodopa (CD/LD) extended-release capsules for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Zambon will seek regulatory approval and commercialize IPX203 in Europe. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Zambon is a privately held multinational chemical-pharmaceutical company founded in Italy in 1906. The company continues to be managed by the family of the original founder. Zambon has extensive presence in the European neurology space, having launched and commercialized XADAGO^® (safinamide), which is used as add on to LD to treat fluctuating PD patients. IPX203 is expected to complement their existing portfolio and PD focus in Europe, where XADAGO^® is a registered trademark of Zambon SpA.

“We believe IPX203 can improve the lives of the more than 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s disease. It has been a strategic goal of Amneal to ensure that not only U.S. patients, but also Parkinson’s patients worldwide have access to our products. Zambon, a family-owned business with whom we share a long-term vision and commitment toward patient communities, is the right partner to extend the reach of IPX203 to Europe,” said Chirag and Chintu Patel, Co-Chief Executive Officers at Amneal.

“Zambon Biotech’s mission is to build a long-term pipeline of innovative medicines that make patients’ lives better. Given our group’s capabilities in commercialization and our existing footprint in neurology, particularly Parkinson’s, we are pleased to partner with Amneal to bring IPX203 to Parkinson’s patients in Europe,” said Frank Weber, Chief Executive Officer at Zambon Biotech.

Today’s announcement of a licensing agreement with a European partner is part of Amneal’s broader strategy to bring IPX203 to Parkinson’s patients around the world. Earlier this year, Amneal also signed a license agreement with Knight Therapeutics Inc. granting exclusive rights to seek regulatory approval and commercialize IPX203 in Canada and Latin America.

About IPX203
IPX203 is a novel, oral formulation of CD/LD extended-release capsules designed for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. IPX203 contains immediate-release granules and extended-release coated beads. The IR granules consist of CD and LD, with a disintegrant polymer to allow for rapid dissolution. The ER beads consist of LD, coated with a sustained release polymer to allow for slow release of the drug a mucoadhesive polymer to keep the granules adhered to the area of absorption longer, and an enteric coating to prevent the granules from disintegrating prematurely in the stomach. This formulation is distinct from RYTARY^® (carbidopa/levodopa) extended-release capsules, Amneal’s extended-release CD/LD treatment for PD approved by the U.S. FDA in 2015.

About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease has become the fastest growing neurological disorder worldwide, with approximately 1 million patients diagnosed in the U.S. and over 10 million patients globally^1,2,3 It is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain that affect movement.

PD is characterized by slowness of movement, stiffness, resting tremor and impaired balance.⁴ While PD is not considered a fatal disease, it is associated with significant morbidity and disability.⁵ The average age at diagnosis for patients with PD is 60; as people live longer, the number of patients living with PD is predicted to grow significantly over the coming decades.^1,6

About Amneal
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRX), headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, is a fully integrated global pharmaceuticals company. We make healthy possible through the development, manufacturing, and distribution of a diverse portfolio of over 270 pharmaceutical products, primarily within the United States. In its Generics segment, the Company is expanding across a broad range of complex product categories and therapeutic areas, including injectables and biosimilars. In its Specialty segment, Amneal has a growing portfolio of branded pharmaceuticals focused primarily on central nervous system and endocrine disorders, with a pipeline focused on unmet needs. Through its AvKARE segment, the Company is a distributor of pharmaceuticals and other products for the U.S. federal government, retail, and institutional markets. For more information, please visit www.amneal.com.

About Zambon Biotech SA
Zambon Biotech SA is a specialized biotech company that aims to build a scientifically robust and commercially viable portfolio of innovative patient-oriented drugs through the scouting, acquisition, licensing and development of new molecules. Zambon Biotech is part of Zambon, a modern multinational chemical-pharmaceutical company established in 1906 in Vicenza, whose history is founded on the values of an Italian family committed to innovating cure and care to improve patients’ lives. Zambon employs 2,798 people worldwide, is present in 23 countries in Europe, America and Asia, and has production facilities in Italy, Switzerland, China, Brazil and in France with its APIs and CDMO site. Thanks to its innovative, quality products commercialized in 87 countries, the group reported a revenue of 900 million euros in 2023. Alongside the three historical therapeutic areas - diseases of the respiratory system, urinary tract infections and pain treatment – Zambon pharma business is focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis, BOS, to which is linked the major 2019 acquisition of Breath Therapeutics, and NCFB. For further information on Zambon please visit www.zambon.com

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References:

1. Dorsey ER et al. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75(1):9-10.
2. Marras et al. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2018;4:21.
3. Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics.
4. NINDS. Parkinson’s disease: challenges, progress, and promise. Reviewed August 2019.
5. Data Monitor: Gibrat et al., 2009; Goldenberg, 2008; Muangpaisan et al., 2009; Pringsheim et al., 2014.
6. John Hopkins Medicine. Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease.

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