Aytu BioScience has acquired US rights to Natesto testosterone nasal gel from Acerus (formerly Trimel) for $8 million up front, including $2 million on signing and an additional $6 million by the end of FY 2017, the companies have announced. Under the deal, which extends through at least February 2024, Aytu will pay milestones of up to $37.5 million. Aytu will also purchase of $2 million of Acerus common stock.
The FDA approved Natesto for the treatment of men with low levels of endogenous testosterone in May 2014, and Endo acquired US and Mexican rights to the product in November 2014 for $25 million up front . In November 2015, Acerus announced that Endo was “de-prioritizing” Natesto as part of a “portfolio optimization process.”
Acerus President and CEO Tom Rossi said, “We are very pleased to announce Aytu as our US commercial partner for Natesto. Management’s proven track record of launching and scaling successful commercial operations within the specialty pharmaceutical industry, and the fact that Aytu is focused on building a significant presence in men’s health, were instrumental in reaching this decision. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Aytu in support of the planned US launch of Natesto, and to supporting its growth in this important therapeutic market.”
Aytu BioScience CEO Josh Disbrow commented, “Securing the rights to commercialize Natesto in the United States represents Aytu’s most significant transaction to date. This partnership further expands on our strategy to build a complementary portfolio of unique urology assets, and we expect Natesto to be a key value driver for Aytu going forward. Approximately thirteen million men in the U.S. have a form of Low T, and we believe that Natesto has significant potential to satisfy the needs of many men that are not satisfied with current Low T treatment options. We look forward to building a strong and long-lasting relationship with Acerus based on successfully establishing Natesto as an important treatment option in the US. Our current sales force is already preparing to engage prescribers given our focus on urologists and the key prescribers of testosterone replacement therapies.”
Read the Acerus press release.
Read the Aytu BioScience press release.
