Rigel Enters Exclusive Global Licensing Agreement for VEPPANU™ (vepdegestrant), an oral PROTAC, for the Treatment of 2L+ ER+/HER2-, ESR1m Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

Rigel (Nasdaq:RIGL) entered an exclusive global license agreement with Arvinas and Pfizer for VEPPANU™ (vepdegestrant), the first FDA-approved oral PROTAC for 2L+ ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

VERITAC-2 showed median PFS 5.0 vs 2.1 months vs fulvestrant (43% risk reduction). Rigel will pay $70M upfront, $15M after transition activities, up to $320M in milestones, contribute up to $40M to development, and pay mid-teens to mid-twenties royalties. VEPPANU becomes Rigel’s fourth commercial product upon expected closing in mid-June 2026 and is listed as a Category 2A option in NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Positive

• Exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize VEPPANU
• VEPPANU expected to become Rigel's fourth commercial product upon closing
• Phase 3 VERITAC-2 reported median PFS 5.0 vs 2.1 months vs fulvestrant in ESR1-mutated mBC
• FDA approved VEPPANU on May 1, 2026 for 2L+ ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer
• Vepdegestrant added as Category 2A option in NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines after endocrine therapy plus CDK4/6 inhibitor

Negative

• Rigel will pay $70M upfront plus $15M after transition activities and up to $320M in potential milestones
• Rigel to contribute up to $40M toward development activities over the next four years
• Arvinas and Pfizer entitled to tiered royalties on VEPPANU sales from mid-teens to mid-twenties
• Agreement effectiveness is subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions
• VEPPANU carries risks including QTc prolongation, hematologic changes, liver test increases and potential effects on fertility

News Market Reaction – RIGL

+12.10%

25 alerts

+12.10% News Effect

+18.0% Peak in 31 hr 23 min

+$66M Valuation Impact

$610.57M Market Cap

1.5x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, RIGL gained 12.10%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +18.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 25 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $66M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $610.57M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Median PFS (vepdegestrant): 5.0 months Median PFS (fulvestrant): 2.1 months Risk reduction: 43% +5 more

8 metrics

Median PFS (vepdegestrant) 5.0 months VERITAC-2 ESR1-mutated population

Median PFS (fulvestrant) 2.1 months VERITAC-2 comparator arm

Risk reduction 43% Reduction in risk of progression or death vs fulvestrant

Hazard ratio 0.57 PFS hazard ratio vs fulvestrant (95% CI: 0.42–0.77)

P-value 0.0001 PFS comparison in VERITAC-2 ESR1-mutated subgroup

Sample size 270 patients VERITAC-2 ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer

Upfront payment $70.0M Paid by Rigel to Arvinas and Pfizer at closing

Milestone potential $320.0M Future regulatory and commercial milestones to Arvinas and Pfizer

Market Reality Check

Price: $29.01 Vol: Volume 376,971 is slightl...

normal vol

$29.01 Last Close

Volume Volume 376,971 is slightly above the 20-day average of 360,217 (relative volume 1.05). normal

Technical Shares at 26.2 are trading below the 200-day MA of 34.38, and well below the 52-week high of 52.24.

Peers on Argus

RIGL is modestly higher (+0.61%) while close peers show mixed moves: PVLA up (+0...

RIGL is modestly higher (+0.61%) while close peers show mixed moves: PVLA up (+0.28%), ANAB, NRIX, RZLT, and TERN down between about -0.01% and -3.06%. This points to a stock-specific reaction rather than a coordinated biotech move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
May 05	Q1 2026 earnings	Positive	-5.1%	Profitable quarter with $58.8M revenue and reaffirmed 2026 guidance.
Apr 28	Earnings call date	Neutral	+0.2%	Announcement of timing for Q1 2026 results call and webcast.
Apr 07	Inducement grants	Neutral	+5.0%	Inducement awards of 8,925 RSUs to new non-executive employees.
Mar 31	Clinical data update	Positive	+5.1%	Final ARROW trial data for GAVRETO in RET+ NSCLC with strong efficacy.
Mar 03	FY 2025 earnings	Positive	-10.3%	Record 2025 revenue and net income driven by hematology-oncology portfolio.

Pattern Detected

Recent history shows negative reactions to earnings updates but positive moves on clinical and pipeline news, suggesting the stock has responded better to R&D milestones than to financial reports.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Rigel reported strong financials with Q4 2025 revenue of $69.8M and full-year 2025 revenue of $294.3M, plus profitable Q1 2026 results with $58.8M in revenues and reaffirmed $275–$290M 2026 guidance, yet the stock fell after both earnings releases. By contrast, publication of final ARROW trial data for GAVRETO (ORR 70%, median PFS 13.1 months) and an inducement grant announcement coincided with positive price reactions. Today’s licensing deal and late-stage, approved oncology asset fit the pattern of the stock responding more favorably to clinical and product portfolio developments.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock surged +12.1% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with t...

Analysis

The stock surged +12.1% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the article’s focus on VEPPANU, Rigel’s fourth commercial product and first-in-class oral PROTAC, supported by Phase 3 data showing median PFS of 5.0 months vs 2.1 months for fulvestrant and a hazard ratio of 0.57. Past trading has rewarded clinical catalysts, but investors might also weigh royalty and milestone obligations and execution risk on commercialization when assessing durability of a large move.

Key Terms

protac, progression-free survival, pfs, hazard ratio, +4 more

8 terms

protac medical

"VEPPANU has a novel mechanism of action, is the first and only FDA-approved PROTAC"

A PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimera) is a small engineered molecule that tags a specific protein inside cells and brings it to the cell’s disposal machinery so the protein is destroyed rather than just blocked. Think of it as a targeted cleanup crew that removes a problematic part instead of temporarily turning it off. Investors care because PROTACs can tackle disease targets that traditional drugs cannot, creating potential for breakthrough therapies, larger markets, and binary clinical readouts that can sharply affect company value.

progression-free survival medical

"demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS)"

Progression-free survival is the length of time during and after a treatment that a patient's disease does not get worse, measured from the start of treatment until the disease shows measurable signs of progression or the patient dies. Investors care because longer progression-free survival in clinical trials often signals that a drug is effective, improving chances of regulatory approval, market adoption, and revenue potential—think of it as a stopwatch showing how long a therapy can keep the illness at bay.

pfs medical

"Median PFS was 5.0 months (95% CI: 3.7, 7.4) in the vepdegestrant arm"

Progression-free survival (PFS) is a clinical-trial measure that records how long, on average, patients live without their disease getting worse after starting a treatment. For investors, PFS acts like a stopwatch of a drug’s effectiveness: longer PFS can signal meaningful patient benefit, improve chances of regulatory approval or label strength, and raise a drug’s commercial value, while shorter or unchanged PFS can weigh on a company’s prospects.

hazard ratio medical

"hazard ratio 0.57 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.77]; p-value 0.0001"

A hazard ratio is a way scientists compare the chance of something happening over time between two groups, like patients taking different medicines. If the ratio is high, it means one group is more likely to experience the event sooner or more often, which helps determine how effective a treatment is or how risky a situation might be.

p-value medical

"hazard ratio 0.57 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.77]; p-value 0.0001"

A p-value is a number that helps determine how likely it is that a result or pattern happened by chance rather than because of a real effect. For investors, a low p-value suggests that the findings in a study or analysis are probably meaningful and not just random noise—like noticing a pattern in coin flips that’s unlikely to occur by chance. This helps in assessing the reliability of information used to make financial decisions.

pdufa regulatory

"set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 5, 2026"

PDUFA, short for the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, is a law that allows drug companies to pay fees to the government to speed up the review process for new medicines. This helps bring important drugs to market more quickly, which can impact their availability and pricing. For investors, PDUFA timelines can influence the timing of a drug’s approval and potential market success.

nda regulatory

"the FDA accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for vepdegestrant (ARV-471)"

An NDA, or nondisclosure agreement, is a legal contract that keeps certain information private between parties. It’s like a promise not to share sensitive details, helping protect business ideas, strategies, or data from being leaked or used without permission. For investors, NDAs help ensure that confidential information remains secure, enabling trust and open communication during business discussions.

qtc interval prolongation medical

"Heart rhythm problems (QTc interval prolongation). VEPPANU can cause changes"

QTc interval prolongation is a lengthening of the heart’s electrical “reset” time measured on an electrocardiogram after adjusting for heart rate; think of it like a loading bar that takes longer than normal to return to zero. It matters to investors because pronounced prolongation can signal a risk of dangerous irregular heartbeats, trigger regulatory review, clinical-trial changes, safety warnings or market setbacks for drugs and medical devices, and therefore can affect a company’s valuation and timelines.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• VEPPANU has a novel mechanism of action, is the first and only FDA-approved PROTAC and has the potential to become an important new treatment option for adult patients with 2L+ ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated mBC
• Pivotal Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial results showed that vepdegestrant was generally well tolerated and reported mPFS of 5.0 months vs. 2.1 months for fulvestrant, a 2.4-fold improvement, in patients with 2L+ ER+/HER2- mBC with an ESR1 mutation
• Upon closing of the transaction, VEPPANU will become Rigel's fourth commercial product and its major focus to accelerate revenue growth while leveraging the company's existing infrastructure, contributing meaningfully to the advancement of Rigel's transformational growth strategy
• Arvinas and Pfizer will receive an upfront $70.0 million and an additional $15.0 million upon the successful completion of certain transition activities, and are eligible for up to $320.0 million in future potential regulatory and commercial milestones 
• Rigel to host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the transaction and will be joined by breast cancer Key Opinion Leader and vepdegestrant Phase 3 VERITAC-2 principal investigator Erika Hamilton, M.D.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL), a commercial stage biotechnology company focused on hematologic disorders and cancer, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive, global license agreement with Arvinas, Inc. (Arvinas) and Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer), subject to regulatory clearance, to develop, manufacture and commercialize VEPPANU™ (vepdegestrant), the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved oral PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC). PROTACs are part of a new class of heterobifunctional protein degraders designed to harness the body's natural machinery to selectively degrade, rather than inhibit, disease-causing proteins. In the Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial, which evaluated vepdegestrant in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC), vepdegestrant was generally well tolerated and demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) as compared to fulvestrant.

"Our transformational growth strategy took a significant step forward today as we plan to enter a targeted segment of the sizable breast cancer market, focused on patients with limited treatment options following progression on endocrine therapy. With its novel mechanism of action designed to address a key driver of resistance, VEPPANU represents a compelling treatment option within this setting," said Raul Rodriguez, Rigel's president and CEO. "Importantly, we are well positioned to advance this important new treatment, supported by a highly experienced commercial and medical affairs organization and a proven track record of successfully launching newly-acquired assets. VEPPANU is expected to contribute strong revenue growth in our expanding commercial portfolio, and we believe it has the potential to become a meaningful driver of long-term growth for Rigel."

On May 31, 2025, pivotal results for VERITAC-2 (NCT05654623), a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial were presented in an oral presentation of a late-breaking abstract at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine. On August 8, 2025, the FDA accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for vepdegestrant (ARV-471) to treat ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer and set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 5, 2026.

On May 1, 2026, VEPPANU (vepdegestrant) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer, as detected by an FDA-authorized test, with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy. FDA approval was granted based on data from VERITAC-2 clinical trial that evaluated vepdegestrant versus fulvestrant in patients with ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In the trial, among patients with an ESR1 mutation (n=270), vepdegestrant demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 43% compared to fulvestrant. Median PFS was 5.0 months (95% CI: 3.7, 7.4) in the vepdegestrant arm and 2.1 months (95% CI: 1.9, 3.5) in the fulvestrant arm (hazard ratio 0.57 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.77]; p-value 0.0001). Overall survival was immature with 16% of deaths in this population at the time of the PFS analysis. The majority of adverse events with vepdegestrant were low grade (Grade 1-2) and the most common (≥10%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased white blood cells, increased AST, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, decreased hemoglobin, decreased neutrophils, increased ALT, increased alkaline phosphatase, nausea, decreased blood potassium, increased bilirubin, decreased appetite, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, decreased platelets, and constipation.

"The ER+/HER2- patient population is the most prevalent breast cancer subtype, where treatment with endocrine therapies is the current standard of care. As many as 50% of patients emerge with an ESR1 mutation following exposure to endocrine therapy, developing resistance to standard treatments," said Erika Hamilton, M.D., Chief Development Officer, Late Phase and Director, Breast Cancer Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and Phase 3 VERITAC-2 principal investigator. "As a PROTAC, vepdegestrant is mechanistically differentiated and has a demonstrated efficacy and a safety profile observed in clinical trials. Vepdegestrant provides a much-needed new treatment option for physicians that can fill a critical gap in care for patients with breast cancer."

On May 8, 2026, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®) added vepdegestrant to the latest NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®) for Breast Cancer. Vepdegestrant was added as a Category 2A treatment option for patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer after at least one line of endocrine therapy + cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor.*

Transaction Details
Under the terms of the agreement, Rigel will be granted exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize VEPPANU. Arvinas and Pfizer will receive an upfront payment of $70.0 million and an additional $15.0 million upon successful completion of certain development and manufacturing transition activities, to be distributed to Arvinas and Pfizer.

Pfizer and Arvinas will continue to be responsible for current ongoing development activities and Rigel will contribute up to $40.0 million towards certain development activities over the next four years.

Arvinas and Pfizer are entitled to receive tiered royalties on commercial sales of VEPPANU ranging from mid-teens to mid-twenties. Arvinas and Pfizer are also eligible to receive a total of up to an additional $320.0 million in connection with the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones.

Rigel will be responsible for the launch and commercialization of VEPPANU in the U.S. and has global rights with the ability to sublicense to potential partners to further develop and commercialize vepdegestrant outside the U.S. Arvinas and Pfizer will be entitled to a percentage of sublicensing revenue generated outside the U.S.

The effectiveness of the agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and is expected to close in mid-June 2026.

Conference Call and Webcast with Slides Today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Rigel will hold a live conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (5:00 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss the transaction. The conference call will also feature a presentation of the vepdegestrant Phase 3 data by Erika Hamilton, M.D., Chief Development Officer, Late Phase and Director, Breast Cancer Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and Phase 3 VERITAC-2 principal investigator.

Participants can access the live conference call by dialing (877) 407-3088 (domestic) or (201) 389-0927 (international). The conference call will also be webcast live and can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.rigel.com. The webcast will be archived and available for replay after the call via the Rigel website.

*NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.

Please see below for the Important Safety Information for VEPPANU. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information for VEPPANU here.

What is VEPPANU?
VEPPANU is a prescription medicine to treat people with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and whose disease has progressed after at least one line of endocrine-based therapy.

Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that VEPPANU is right for you.

It is not known if VEPPANU is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking VEPPANU?

• All your medical conditions, including if you:
• have heart failure or heart rhythm problems, including QTc prolongation, and long QTc syndrome
• have low blood levels of potassium or magnesium
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. VEPPANU can harm your unborn baby.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

• • Your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with VEPPANU.
  • Use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with VEPPANU and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with VEPPANU.

Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant:

• • Use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with VEPPANU and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VEPPANU passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with VEPPANU and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. VEPPANU and other medicines may affect the way each other works and may cause serious side effects.

What should I avoid while taking VEPPANU?
Avoid taking St. John's wort, eating grapefruit, or drinking grapefruit juice during with treatment with VEPPANU.

What are the possible side effects of VEPPANU?
VEPPANU can cause serious side effects, including:

• Heart rhythm problems (QTc interval prolongation). VEPPANU can cause changes in the electrical activity of your heart and may increase your risk of abnormal heart rhythm problems, and sudden death. Your healthcare provider will check your heart with a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) and check your blood potassium and magnesium levels before and as needed during treatment with VEPPANU. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any signs and symptoms of abnormal heart rhythm, including:
  • feeling lightheaded or faint
  • dizziness
  • feeling that your heart is pounding or beating fast (heart palpitations)
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain

The most common side effects of VEPPANU include:

• decreased white blood cell counts
• increased liver function tests
• muscle and bone pain
• tiredness
• decreased red blood cell counts
• nausea
• decreased potassium levels in your blood
• decreased appetite
• abnormal electrocardiogram (QT prolonged)
• decreased platelet counts
• constipation

Your healthcare provider may decrease your dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop treatment with VEPPANU, if you develop certain side effects.

VEPPANU may affect fertility in males and in females who are able to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you. These are not all of the possible side effects of VEPPANU.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

To report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA, visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088).

VEPPANU is a registered trademark of Arvinas Operations, Inc.

About Rigel
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing and providing novel therapies that significantly improve the lives of patients with hematologic disorders and cancer. Founded in 1996, Rigel is based in South San Francisco, California. For more information on Rigel, the Company's marketed products and pipeline of potential products, visit www.rigel.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected closing of the transaction, the anticipated benefits of the license agreement, the potential of VEPPANU (vepdegestrant), and Rigel's expectations regarding the commercialization, market opportunity and potential contribution of VEPPANU to its commercial portfolio and future growth. These forward-looking statements are based upon Rigel's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability of the parties to satisfy the closing conditions to the transaction, including receipt of required regulatory approvals; the timing of the closing of the transaction; risks related to the transfer of development, manufacturing and commercialization responsibilities to Rigel, including risks associated with integrating newly acquired or licensed assets; Rigel's ability to successfully launch and commercialize VEPPANU, including uncertainties related to physician adoption, patient demand and market acceptance; the availability and adequacy of reimbursement and pricing; competition from other therapies; the extent to which clinical trial results translate into real-world outcomes; regulatory risks, including the risk that regulatory approvals may be subject to limitations or may be withdrawn; risks related to Rigel's dependence on third parties, including Arvinas and Pfizer, for development, manufacturing and supply activities; and Rigel's ability to successfully execute its strategic and commercial plans. There can be no assurance that VEPPANU will achieve the commercial potential anticipated by Rigel or that the transaction will result in the expected benefits. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risk Factors" section of Rigel's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 and in other filings Rigel makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this release, and Rigel undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact for Investors & Media:

Investors:
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
650.624.1232
ir@rigel.com 

Media:
David Rosen
Argot Partners
646.461.6387
david.rosen@argotpartners.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rigel-enters-exclusive-global-licensing-agreement-for-veppanu-vepdegestrant-an-oral-protac-for-the-treatment-of-2l-erher2--esr1m-advanced-or-metastatic-breast-cancer-302769425.html

SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What did Rigel (RIGL) announce about VEPPANU on May 12, 2026?

Rigel announced an exclusive global license from Arvinas and Pfizer for VEPPANU, an FDA-approved oral PROTAC for 2L+ ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer. According to Rigel, VEPPANU is expected to become its fourth commercial product and a major growth focus.

What were the key Phase 3 VERITAC-2 results for VEPPANU (vepdegestrant)?

VEPPANU showed median progression-free survival of 5.0 months versus 2.1 months with fulvestrant in ESR1-mutated patients. According to Rigel, this corresponded to a 43% reduction in risk of disease progression or death (hazard ratio 0.57; p=0.0001) and was generally well tolerated.

How much will Rigel pay Arvinas and Pfizer under the VEPPANU license agreement?

Rigel will pay $70 million upfront, $15 million after certain transition activities, and up to $320 million in potential milestones. According to Rigel, it will also contribute up to $40 million to development over four years and pay tiered mid-teens to mid-twenties royalties.

What is VEPPANU used for and which breast cancer patients can receive it?

VEPPANU treats adults with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer after at least one line of endocrine therapy. According to Rigel, patients require an FDA-authorized test confirming an ESR1 mutation before treatment eligibility is determined by their healthcare provider.

What are the main side effects and safety risks of VEPPANU treatment?

VEPPANU can cause QTc interval prolongation, abnormal heart rhythms, and sudden death risk, requiring ECG and electrolyte monitoring. According to Rigel, common side effects include low blood counts, liver test increases, fatigue, nausea, constipation, and it may affect fertility in males and females.

When is the Rigel VEPPANU licensing deal expected to close and what conditions apply?

The VEPPANU license agreement is expected to become effective in mid-June 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. According to Rigel, these include clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act before Rigel assumes full global development and commercialization responsibilities.