Edison Pharmaceuticals has entered into a research, development and commercialization agreement with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (DSP) for the development of EPI-743 and EPI-589 in Japan.
 
Edison will receive $35 million upfront and $15 million in R&D support, and will be eligible to receive as much as $35 million in development milestones, and as much as $460 million in royalties on sales. DSP will gain development and commercialization rights in Japan.
 
DSP will be responsible for development, approval, and commercialization of EPI-743 in Japan. The work will initially focus on orphan pediatric mitochondrial disease. Edison will retain ownership and direct all research, clinical, and commercial development of EPI-743 and EPI-589 outside of Japan. The companies will collaborate on the research and development of EPI-589 with a focus on adult central nervous system disease. 
 
“Our partnership with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma will allow Edison to accelerate the development and approval of the first drug for inherited respiratory chain diseases of the mitochondria,” stated Guy Miller, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Edison. “Our shared vision of the role of redox control and the mitochondria in human disease will help us extend our learnings derived from rare pediatric diseases to poorly treated acute and chronic adult CNS diseases.”