Lowenstein Sandler represented First Wave BioPharma, Inc., (NASDAQ:FWBI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, non-systemic therapies for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, in its agreement with Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) to license Capeserod, a selective 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist, which First Wave will repurpose and develop for gastrointestinal (GI) indications.
Under the terms of the agreement, First Wave will receive from Sanofi an exclusive, global license for Capeserod and will assume responsibility for all future clinical development. The licensing agreement, which includes a modest upfront payment, backend milestone payments and single digit royalties on net sales, provides a right of first refusal for Sanofi to reacquire Capeserod following certain stages of clinical development and to commercialize the product.
Sanofi’s research on Capeserod and the subsequent artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered analyses suggest that the drug’s mechanism of action has potential applications for several gastrointestinal disorders in multibillion-dollar markets where there are significant unmet clinical needs.
First Wave BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, non-systemic therapies for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.
The Lowenstein deal team included Michael J. Lerner and Nicholas G. Mehler.
