Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. has entered into global license and supply agreements with Novartis for the development and commercialization of a Captisol-enabled oral liquid formulation of trametinib, a kinase inhibitor indicated as a single agent or in combination with dabrafenib, for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation. Ligand will be eligible to receive a license fee and royalties, and revenue from Captisol material sales. Novartis will be responsible for all costs related to the program.
 
“This represents an expansion of our relationship with Novartis as they develop an oral liquid formulation potential treatment option,” said John Higgins, chief executive officer of Ligand. “This transaction continues to show the ability of Captisol to address unmet solubility and other formulation issues facing the industry.”
 
Ligand also entered into a worldwide license agreement with ONO Pharmaceutical under which ONO will be able to use the OmniRat, OmniMouse and OmniFlic platforms to discover fully human mono- and bispecific antibodies. Ligand is eligible to receive platform access payments, development milestones and royalties for each product incorporating an OmniAb antibody. ONO will be responsible for all costs related to the programs.
 
“Gaining access to the OmniAb platform provides ONO with an industry-leading novel technology for the discovery of antibody therapeutics,” said John Higgins, chief executive officer of Ligand. “This agreement continues to demonstrate the demand of companies with rich R&D histories to use OmniAb in their search for novel antibody therapeutics and further expands the global diversity of our OmniAb partners.”