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In Novartis, Conatus Lands Experienced, Deep-Pocketed NASH Partner

 
• By Joseph Haas

Biotech gets $50m up front, up to $650m in milestones, significant royalties and the option to co-promote emricasan in NASH in the US. Novartis also may combine the caspase inhibitor with its Phase II FXR agonist.

The broad-based competition in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) took another turn Dec. 19, as Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. signed an option, collaboration and commercialization agreement with Novartis AG around its caspase inhibitor emricasan, currently in Phase IIb for both NASH cirrhosis and NASH fibrosis.

The deal brings Conatus $50m up front, a convertible loan of up to $15m from Novartis, a $7m exercise fee...

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