The University of Central Florida Research Foundation (UCF) has given license for a diagnostic test for the detection of the MAP bacterium (Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis) for its Crohn's drug, RHB-104 to RedHill Biopharma.
As per the terms of the deal, RedHill will pay an upfront payment and future net sales royalties of 7%-20% to the UCF.
The test may be used by RedHill for future commercial purposes as a companion diagnostic with RHB-104.
Currently, RedHill preparing two parallel placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials with RHB-104 for the treatment of Crohn’s patients who are MAP-infected (a Phase II/III trial in the US, and a European Phase III trial).
RedHill RHB-104 product manager Patrick Mclean said detecting the MAP bacterium and screening relevant Crohn’s patients should allow RedHill to advance the development of RHB-104 toward future commercialization.