Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a biopharmaceutical company, has expanded its global license and supply agreements with SAGE Therapeutics (SAGE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to now also cover the use of Captisol in the development and commercialisation of SAGE-689.

Under the terms of the license, Ligand received a licensing fee and will be eligible to receive potential milestone payments, tiered royalties on future net sales and revenue from Captisol material sales. SAGE will be responsible for all costs related to the program.

“This latest agreement represents an expansion of our existing relationship with SAGE and we are excited to partner on another potentially life-changing Captisol-enabled drug,” commented John Higgins, chief executive officer of Ligand.

“SAGE has a track record of impressive development and scientific achievements, and this latest agreement with them adds to Ligand’s growing portfolio of over 120 shots-on-goal.”

Captisol is a patent-protected, chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimise the solubility and stability of drugs. Captisol was invented and initially developed by scientists in the laboratories of Dr. Valentino Stella at the University of Kansas’ Higuchi Biosciences Center for specific use in drug development and formulation. This unique technology has enabled seven FDA-approved products, including Amgen’s Kyprolis, Baxter International’s Nexterone and Merck’s Noxafil IV. There are more than 40 Captisol-enabled products currently in development.

SAGE Therapeutics is developing SAGE-689, a next generation GABAA receptor allosteric modulator, as an adjunctive IV therapy for the treatment of status epilepticus patients whose seizures have not resolved after treatment with standard of care therapies.