• ASLAN would grant BioGenetics exclusive rights for commercializing ASLAN003 in South Korea
• The therapy showed early signs of efficacy and safety in refractory and relapsed AML patients

Clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical firm, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, and BioGenetics Co. Ltd., a leading South Korean healthcare firm, have expanded their strategic partnership by entering into a new commercialization agreement wherein the two parties would partner for commercializing ASLAN003 in all indications in South Korea.

Apparently, ASLAN would grant BioGenetics exclusive rights for commercializing ASLAN003 in South Korea for an upfront payment of US$1 million and then up to US$8 million in development and sales milestones. ASLAN is also eligible for receiving tiered double digit royalties on the net sales from the high-teens to the mid-twenties range.

A press release from ASLAN revealed that the South Korean firm would contribute towards the global R&D costs incurred by ASLAN in the clinical development of ASLAN003 in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), along with being responsible for obtaining initial and all subsequent regulatory approvals for ASLAN003 in South Korea.

ASLAN003 is purportedly an orally active, potent inhibitor of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) which has the potential of being the first-in-class in AML. Currently, ASLAN is conducting a phase 2A dose optimization study of ASLAN003 in AML and is expecting to conclude the study in the first half of 2019.

At the 60th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, ASLAN had seemingly presented a preliminary data from the study in which ASLAN003 showed early signs of efficacy and safety in refractory and relapsed AML patients.

ASLAN003 has allegedly showcased potent inhibition of DHODH, a lack of toxicities related with first generation inhibitors and other novel AML therapies, in previous clinical studies, besides the potential in inducing differentiation in blast cells and applicability in a broad range of AML patients. ASLAN003 has also been awarded orphan drug designation from the U.S. FDA.

For the record, ASLAN had earlier signed an agreement with BioGenetics, in Feb 2019, wherein both parties were to collaborate for commercializing the lead asset of ASLAN, velutinid, in all indications in South Korea.