STOCK TITAN

Sol-Gel and Beimei Pharma Announce an Asset Purchase Agreement to Commercialize TWYNEO® in the Mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Israel

Rhea-AI Impact
(Moderate)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags
Rhea-AI Summary

Sol-Gel Technologies (NASDAQ: SLGL) has entered into a significant asset purchase agreement with Shenzhen Beimei Pharmaceutical Co. to commercialize TWYNEO® for acne vulgaris in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Israel.

Sol-Gel will receive up to $15 million, including $10 million in upfront and regulatory milestone payments, with the remaining $5 million as royalties on net sales. This agreement enhances the potential reach of TWYNEO beyond the U.S. market.

Beimei will handle the registration and commercialization of TWYNEO in these regions. This strategic move aims to address the unmet clinical need in the acne market, particularly among adolescents in China.

Positive
  • Sol-Gel to receive up to $15 million in total consideration.
  • Immediate boost of $10 million as upfront and regulatory milestone payments.
  • Potential for $5 million in royalties on net sales.
  • Expansion of TWYNEO's market beyond the U.S. into major Asian regions and Israel.
  • Partnership with Beimei Pharma, a company focused on dermatology, boosts Sol-Gel's market presence.
  • Beimei to handle TWYNEO's registration and commercialization, reducing Sol-Gel's operational burden.
Negative
  • Dependence on successful registration and commercialization by Beimei for full financial benefits.
  • No immediate revenue from the potential $5 million in royalties, contingent on net sales performance.
  • Regulatory approval risks remain, which might delay market entry and financial benefits.

Sol-Gel Technologies' asset purchase agreement with Shenzhen Beimei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is a noteworthy development for stakeholders. The agreement specifies an upfront payment and regulatory milestone of $10 million, with potential additional royalties of up to $5 million. This initial cash influx bolsters Sol-Gel's liquidity, providing additional resources for ongoing clinical trials and potential new product development. For a company with a market capitalization of around $66 million (as of the latest data), this deal represents a significant percentage of its valuation, enhancing financial stability.

In the short term, this agreement can lead to an uptick in Sol-Gel's stock price due to the immediate financial benefits and the strategic entry into the expansive Chinese market, which demonstrates substantial potential given the unmet needs in dermatology, particularly acne treatment. However, long-term benefits hinge on the successful commercialization and sales performance of TWYNEO in the specified territories.

Risks include regulatory hurdles in China and other regions involved, which could delay revenue realization. Investors should also be wary of the competitive landscape in acne treatment, which may affect market penetration and sales volume.

The acne treatment market is robust and TWYNEO's entry into China and neighboring regions is significant given the high prevalence of acne among adolescents and adults. The product's prior FDA approval adds credibility, but local market acceptance will be crucial. China, in particular, has a large and growing middle class with increasing spending power on healthcare products. The potential market size is substantial, especially if Beimei Pharma successfully navigates the regulatory landscape.

The impact of this agreement extends beyond immediate financial gains. It positions Sol-Gel Technologies favorably for future partnerships and market expansions. Moreover, the deal aligns well with the global trend of increasing demand for dermatological treatments, driven by rising awareness and willingness to invest in skincare.

However, cultural and market-specific factors could influence the product's success. Consumer preferences and regional competition are variables that could either enhance or limit TWYNEO's market penetration. The company's effective marketing and distribution strategies in collaboration with Beimei Pharma will be critical to capitalize on this opportunity fully.

Sol-Gel to receive a total consideration of up to US$15 million, out of which US$10 million will be paid as upfront and regulatory milestones

NESS ZIONA, Israel, May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sol-Gel Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: SLGL), a dermatology company, pioneering treatments for patients with severe skin conditions, conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial of SGT-610 (patidegib gel, 2%) for Gorlin syndrome, and with two approved large-category dermatology products, TWYNEO® and EPSOLAY®, today announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement with Chinese based Shenzhen Beimei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, for the commercialization of TWYNEO, for the treatment of acne vulgaris, in the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Israel.

Under the terms of the agreement, Beimei purchases and licenses rights to exclusively commercialize TWYNEO in these territories. In return, Sol-Gel will receive, subject to applicable government approvals, upfront and milestone payments of US$10 million and up to US$5 million as royalty payments on net sales.

“This agreement demonstrates the potential of TWYNEO outside of the U.S., and we expect to announce other agreements regarding the commercialization of both our FDA-approved assets, TWYNEO and EPSOLAY, in other territories,” said Alon Seri-Levy, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sol-Gel.

"The clinical need in the acne market remains unmet for a long time in China, especially for adolescents. TWYNEO as an innovative combination formulation approved by the U.S. FDA, and its efficacy in treating acne has been proven by clinical trials. Beimei Pharma will perform the registration and commercialization process of TWYNEO in its territories to bring a new treatment to the vast population of acne patients. I believe this deal encourages Beimei Pharma to deeper cultivate our pediatric pipeline layout in the field of dermatology, leading Beimei Pharma into a new stage,” said Ms. Wu Guangmei, founder and CEO of Beimei Pharma.

About TWYNEO—TWYNEO is the first and only U.S. FDA-approved fixed-dose combination of tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide cream for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adults and pediatric patients nine years of age and older.

About Sol-Gel Technologies
Sol-Gel Technologies, Ltd. is a dermatology company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing or partnering drug products to treat skin diseases. Sol-Gel developed TWYNEO, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adults and pediatric patients nine years of age and older, and EPSOLAY, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults. Both drugs are exclusively licensed to and commercialized by Galderma in the US; and are exclusively licensed to Searchlight in Canada. TWYNEO was purchased and licensed by Beimei Pharma to be exclusively commercialized by them in the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Israel.

The Company’s pipeline also includes a Phase 3 clinical trial of Orphan and Breakthrough Drug candidate SGT-610, which is a new topical hedgehog inhibitor being developed to prevent the new basal cell carcinoma lesions in patients with Gorlin syndrome that is expected to have an improved safety profile compared to oral hedgehog inhibitors as well as topical drug candidate SGT-210 under investigation for the treatment of rare hyper-keratinization disorders.

For additional information, please visit our new website:  www.sol-gel.com

About Beimei Pharma
Shenzhen Beimei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Beimei Pharma") focuses on the field of pediatric prescription medicines, integrating full-spectrum capabilities of R&D, manufacture, commercialization and global cooperation, driven by the core strategy of self-development and global collaboration via in-licensing, asset purchase acquisition etc. Synergizing with the manufacture base in Liangyungang to fulfil sufficient production and global supply of diversified special formulations for children's medications, Beimei is aiming to provide pediatric patients with high-quality and full range of drugs.

Beimei Pharma has more than 40 pediatric drug products in its portfolio and pipeline, including 4 approved drugs launched in the market, and several innovative drugs with global rights and independent intellectual property rights. The current pipeline covers the therapeutic fields of dermatology, respiratory, gastroenterology, anti-infection, neurology, neonatal, endocrinology, etc.

Beimei Pharma has established long-term partnerships with multiple large international pharmaceutical companies, such as Hetero, Cipla, Deva, Dr Reddy, LTS, MedPharma, Synthon, EMP, NTC, Syrimed, etc.

Beimei Pharma has completed the Angel Round, Round A, Round B/B+ and Round C financing with hundreds of millions of RMB. Beimei Pharma gained recognition from many well-known investment institutions, including Efung Capital and the industrial parties.

For additional information, please visit the website: http://www.beimeiyaoye.com/

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to out-licensing Epsolay and Twyneo in additional territories, the potential of Sol-Gel’s assets, the timeline for advancing SGT-610, and SGT-610’s market value. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, a delay in the timing of our clinical trials, the success of our clinical trials, and an increase in our anticipated costs and expenses, as well as the following factors: (i) the adequacy of our financial and other resources, particularly in light of our history of recurring losses and the uncertainty regarding the adequacy of our liquidity to pursue our complete business objectives; (ii) our ability to complete the development of our product candidates; (iii) our ability to find suitable co-development partners; (iv) our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates in our target markets, the potential delay in receiving such regulatory approvals and the possibility of adverse regulatory or legal actions relating to our product candidates even if regulatory approval is obtained; (v) our collaborators’ ability to commercialize our pharmaceutical product candidates; (vi) our ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property; (vii) our collaborators’ ability to manufacture our product candidates in commercial quantities, at an adequate quality or at an acceptable cost; (viii) our collaborators’ ability to establish adequate sales, marketing and distribution channels; (ix) acceptance of our product candidates by healthcare professionals and patients; (x) the possibility that we may face third-party claims of intellectual property infringement; (xi) the timing and results of clinical trials that we may conduct or that our competitors and others may conduct relating to our or their products; (xii) intense competition in our industry, with competitors having substantially greater financial, technological, research and development, regulatory and clinical, manufacturing, marketing and sales, distribution and personnel resources than we do; (xiii) potential product liability claims; (xiv) potential adverse federal, state and local government regulation in the United States, the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Europe or Israel; and (xv) loss or retirement of key executives and research scientists; (xvi) general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; and, (xvii) the current war between Israel and Hamas and any deterioration of the war in Israel into a broader regional conflict involving Israel with other parties. These factors and other important factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2024, and our other reports filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this press release.  

For further information, please contact:

Sol-Gel Contact:
Gilad Mamlok
Chief Financial Officer
info@sol-gel.com
+972-8-9313433


FAQ

What does the Sol-Gel and Beimei Pharma agreement involve?

The agreement involves the commercialization of TWYNEO in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Israel, with Sol-Gel receiving up to $15 million.

How much will Sol-Gel receive upfront from the TWYNEO agreement?

Sol-Gel will receive $10 million upfront and regulatory milestone payments.

What is the total potential value of the Sol-Gel and Beimei Pharma agreement?

The total potential value is up to $15 million, including upfront payments and royalties.

What regions are covered in the Sol-Gel and Beimei Pharma TWYNEO agreement?

The regions covered are mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Israel.

What is TWYNEO used for?

TWYNEO is used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

What is the potential royalty amount Sol-Gel might receive?

Sol-Gel might receive up to $5 million in royalties on net sales.

What is the significance of the Sol-Gel and Beimei Pharma deal for the acne market in China?

The deal aims to address the unmet clinical need in the acne market, especially for adolescents in China.

Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. Ordinary Shares

NASDAQ:SLGL

SLGL Rankings

SLGL Latest News

SLGL Stock Data

17.83M
27.86M
65.17%
26.44%
1.57%
Biotechnology
Healthcare
Link
United States of America
Ness Ziona