Questcor Pharmaceuticals Acquires Rights to Synacthen from Novartis

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR) has acquired rights to develop Synacthen^® (Tetracosactide) and Synacthen Depot in the U.S. from Novartis. Synacthen is used as a diagnostic aid in the assessment of suspected adrenocortical hypofunction. Synacthen Depot is a depot formulation of Synacthen.  The products are approved outside the U.S. for certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, but have never been developed or approved for patients in the U.S.

Deal Terms

Questcor will pay Novartis an upfront payment of $60.0 million and milestones payment upto $75million.  Upon FDA approval of Synacthen in the U.S., Questcor will pay Novartis another milestone and royalties based on net sales in the U.S.  

About Synacthen

 Synacthen and Synacthen Depot are available in more than forty countries to treat a number of conditions including some rheumatoid diseases, ulcerative colitis, chronic skin conditions responsive to corticosteroids, nephrotic syndrome, acute exacerbations in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis or retrobulbar neuritis.  Synacthen and Synacthen Depot are also used as a diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency. Synacthen and Synacthen Depot are not approved in the U.S. 

About Questcor                                                                                     

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of patients with serious, difficult-to-treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Questcor also provides specialty contract manufacturing services to the global pharmaceutical industry through its wholly-owned subsidiary BioVectra Inc. Questcor's primary product is H.P. Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection), an injectable drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of 19 indications. Of these 19 indications, Questcor currently generates substantially all of its net sales from the following on-label indications: the treatment of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome of the idiopathic type, or NS, the treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, or MS, in adults, the treatment of infantile spasms, or IS, in infants and children under two years of age, and the treatment of certain rheumatology related conditions, including the treatment of the rare and closely related neuromuscular disorders dermatomyositis and polymyositis. With respect to nephrotic syndrome, the FDA has approved Acthar to "induce a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus." Questcor is also exploring the possibility of developing markets for other on-label indications and the possibility of pursuing FDA approval of additional indications not currently on the Acthar label where there is high unmet medical need. For more information about Questcor, please visit www.questcor.com.