TaiwanJ Pharmaceuticals has signed a $26 million contract with Shanghai, China-based Newsoara Biopharma to license out its drug candidate JKB-122 for further development in Asia. JKB-122 is a phase 2 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) drug candidate. Newsoara will be responsible for the clinical development and market commercialization of JKB-122 in Asia, except Taiwan.
 
According to the agreement, TaiwanJ will receive $2 million upfront and up to $24 million in milestone payments. The two companies are also working together to conduct preclinical research for JKB-122’s second generation compound JKB-133. In addition, TaiwanJ will maintain its right of global clinical development and subsequent worldwide market commercialization.
 
JKB-122 is a small molecule and a long-acting TLR4 antagonist showing anti-fibrotic, immuno-modulating, and anti-inflammatory effects for the treatments of chronic liver diseases including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).