Phathom Pharmaceuticals Inc. will begin marketing Voquezna (vonoprazan) in December, thanks to the Nov. 1 approval by U.S. regulators, who cleared the potassium-competitive acid blocker at 10-mg and 20-mg doses for all grades of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), maintenance of healing of all grades of the condition and relief of associated heartburn.
Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc. licensed rights to zastaprazan, a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment candidate, from Onconic Therapeutics Inc. in a $127.5 million deal. Under the agreement, Livzon, which is based in Guangdong, China, obtains the exclusive rights to develop, license, manufacture and commercialize the candidate in greater China. In turn, Seoul, Korea-based Onconic will obtain a $15 million up-front payment, and up to $112.5 million in development, licensing and commercialization milestone payments.
Carephar Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. obtained marketing approval for keverprazan (KFP-H008) from China’s NMPA for use in duodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis treatments, allowing it to tap an increasingly competitive market.
With phase III data due from Phathom Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the near term, investor eyes are turning to the ways that lead compound vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, might distinguish itself from proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
