April 5, 2021 -- Cidara Therapeutics has inked a $780 million exclusive global rights agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for Cidara's Cloudbreak antiviral conjugates for influenza. The deal was facilitated by Janssen parent Johnson & Johnson.
Antivirals from the Cloudbreak platform couple a potent antiviral targeting domain to a human antibody fragment. The antiviral conjugates directly inhibit viral proliferation while simultaneously engaging the immune system, according to Cidara.
The agreement will help Cidara move its CD388 conjugate through phase II development, it said. Janssen will be responsible for late-stage development, manufacturing, registration, and commercialization. Cidara will receive upfront payment of $27 million and will be eligible to receive up to $753 million in research and development funding, milestone recognition, and royalties on global sales.
Cidara plans to file an investigational new drug application for CD388 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year.