Blue Water Biotech has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with WraSer and Xspire Pharma (together ‘WraSer’) for the purchase of six FDA-approved assets across multiple indications, including cardiology, otic infections, and pain management.
Blue Water Biotech will purchase the WraSer Assets for a total of $8.5 million cash consideration payable in three tranches: at signing, upon closing and within one year of closing. In addition, WraSer shall receive 1 million restricted shares of Blue Water’s common stock on the closing date.
The assets under the agreement include the patents related to ZONTIVITY, a medication for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) or with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as well as additional products for the treatment of hypertension, otitis media, and pain management.
ZONTIVITY, a once daily pill approved in 2014, is a first-in-class protease activated receptor-1 inhibitor which mediates the cellular effects of thrombin to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and major adverse limb events when used in addition to aspirin and/or clopidogrel in patients with PAD. In a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, ZONTIVITY was shown to reduce the rate of a combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, and urgent coronary revascularization, with 13,186 patients evaluated for safety and 2,187 patients treated with ZONTIVITY for more than three years.
This agreement also includes the purchase of licenses to market and distribute two antibiotic otic products, OTOVEL and CETRAXAL, and their authorized generics currently marketed and distributed by WraSer. OTOVEL, ciprofloxacin and fluocinolone acetonide, is used to treat acute otitis media (AOM) in children 6 months of age and older who have a tiny cylinder tube, known as a tympanostomy tube, inserted in their eardrum that prevents excess fluid in the middle ear.
While tympanostomy tubes are typically placed as a result of multiple ear infections within a short timeframe, they do not prevent AOM, and one study found that over 80% of children had an episode of AOM within 18 months of tympanostomy tube placement. OTOVEL, which contains an antibiotic to treat the infection and an anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and swelling, is the first and only antibiotic and steroid ear drop available in single use vials.
In two clinical studies of pediatric patients with AOM with tympanostomy tubes, children who took OTOVEL were clear of otorrhea in a median of 3.75 and 4.94 days, whereas those on antibiotic alone were not clear until a median of 7.69 and 6.83 days. The clinical studies also showed that the combination of medicines in OTOVEL had similar side effects as the separate medicines. Blue Water is currently developing a vaccine to prevent acute otitis media regardless of tympanostomy tube insertion, and the company intends to leverage this experience and expertise in the future commercialization and marketing for OTOVEL.
The second otic product included in the agreement, CETRAXAL, ciprofloxacin otic solution available in individual unit dosing vials, is used to treat otitis externa, more commonly called swimmer’s ear, in children with an intact tympanic membrane. Swimmer’s ear is characterized by redness or swelling, irritation, or infection of the outer ear canal and can be very painful if left untreated, primarily impacting children that spend a lot of time in the water.
In addition to ZONTIVITY and otic products, Blue Water will purchase the licensed rights to market and distribute CONJUPRI, a calcium channel blocker that can be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure.
Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and MIs. Additionally, Blue Water will purchase two pain medications, TREZIX (acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine bitartrate), for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain for which non-opioids are inadequate, and NALFON (fenoprofen calcium), for relief of mild to moderate pain in adults, as well as relief of the signs and symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
“The team at WraSer has developed a strong pipeline across cardiology, otic products, as well as pain management, and we are thrilled to add these assets to our portfolio at Blue Water,” said Joseph Hernandez, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water.
“In recent months, we have invested significant efforts to build our corporate infrastructure to support our transition into a commercial-stage company, including key hires with extensive experience in commercial operations. We are confident that bringing these assets into our portfolio will strengthen Blue Water’s financial position, allow us to advance our robust vaccine pipeline, and help millions of patients around the world receive proper access to critical treatments.”
“Our products have been developed to provide patients with life changing, and potentially lifesaving, treatments, and we are happy to partner with Blue Water to continue this mission,” said Greg Stokes, Chief Executive Officer of WraSer. “Their management team has extensive experience with commercial products across a wide range of treatment areas, and we look forward to supporting them through this transition, as well as seeing the continued success of these products for patients in need.”
