UPDATE: Ophthotech Announces Has Entered Into Ex-US Licensing, Commercialization Deal with Novartis, Will Potentially Get Upfront Payment of $200M, Receive Over $1B

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Ophthotech Corporation
OPHT
announced today that the Company has entered into an ex-US licensing and commercialization agreement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals focused on the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Under the agreement, Ophthotech grants Novartis exclusive rights to commercialize Ophthotech's lead product candidate, Fovista®, in markets outside the United States while Ophthotech retains sole rights to commercialize Fovista® in the United States. Potential payments to Ophthotech under the agreement could total over $1 billion in upfront and milestone payments, not including future royalties. Fovista® is the most advanced anti-PDGF agent in development for the treatment of wet AMD and, if approved, is expected to be first to market in this class of therapies for wet AMD. Ophthotech will continue to lead the global Fovista® Phase 3 wet AMD pivotal clinical program which is expected to have initial, topline data available in 2016. Ophthotech will continue its lead role in the potential registration of Fovista® in the United States, while Ophthotech and Novartis will collaborate to seek regulatory approvals outside the United States. This collaboration continues the Fovista® development strategy to remain agnostic with respect to the choice of the anti-VEGF agent administered in combination with Fovista®. Separate injections of the anti-VEGF agent and Fovista® would allow physicians to choose their preferred anti-VEGF agent for the combination therapy. The collaboration also provides for the potential development of a fixed combination delivery of a co-formulation of Fovista® with a Novartis proprietary anti-VEGF product which would result in additional flexibility for physicians. Novartis will also seek to develop and commercialize alternative innovative delivery technologies such as a Fovista® pre-filled syringe as part of this collaboration. “As one of the largest ex-US partnering deals ever in the biotechnology industry, this collaboration with Novartis is potentially transformational for Ophthotech,” stated David R. Guyer, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Ophthotech. “This agreement represents an important achievement for the Company as we continue to execute on a strategy to deliver science-driven retinal products and offer physicians multiple treatment options to improve patient outcome. The collaboration also supports our previously stated plan to partner Fovista® outside the United States while we retain sole commercialization rights to Fovista® in the United States. The collaboration not only provides a substantial strategic and financial benefit to Ophthotech, it also begins to put in place essential elements designed to expand the reach of Fovista® outside the United States, following potential regulatory approvals.” Under the financial terms of the agreement: Ophthotech to potentially receive over $1 billion in upfront and milestone payments during the course of the collaboration, not including future royalties. Ophthotech could receive immediate payment and near-term milestones totaling up to $330 million, including an upfront fee of $200 million and Fovista® Phase 3 enrollment-based milestones of up to $130 million. Ophthotech is eligible to receive contingent future ex-US marketing approval milestones totaling up to $300 million and ex-US sales milestones up to $400 million. Ophthotech is entitled to receive royalties on ex-US Fovista® sales. WilmerHale acted as legal counsel for Ophthotech in connection with the transaction. Ophthotech Conference Call / Web Cast Information Ophthotech's management will host a conference call and audio web cast to discuss this announcement. The call is scheduled for May 19, 2014, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. To participate in this conference call, dial 1-888-427-9411 (USA) or 719-325-2354 (International), passcode 9388136 shortly before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A replay of the call will be available from approximately two hours following the live call for two weeks. The replay number is 1-888-203-1112 (USA) or 719-457-0820 (International), passcode 9388136. The audio webcast can be accessed at www.ophthotech.com.
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