Everest Medicines, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products to address critical unmet needs in Asia Pacific markets, has entered into a license agreement with Calliditas Therapeutics AB to develop and commercialize NEFECON for the treatment of primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in South Korea, expanding its license in addition to rights held in Greater China and Singapore. The deal signals the Company's latest efforts to further enhance its international commercial footprint.

Primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgA nephropathy or IgAN or Berger's Disease) is a progressive, chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the kidneys 

Kerry Blanchard, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines said,  "While primary IgAN is more common in Asia than elsewhere in the world, there are no established treatments for patients living with the chronic condition, underscoring the significant and urgent unmet need for innovative medicines."

"South Korea is the third largest pharmaceutical market in the Asia Pacific region —after China and Japan—and represents tremendous opportunity," said Kevin Yong Guo, Chief Commercial Officer of Everest Medicines.

In the coming months, Everest Medicines will collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea to prepare regulatory filings and a New Drug Application (NDA) for NEFECON for the treatment of primary IgAN.

Under the terms of the agreement, Calliditas receives an initial upfront payment of $3million at signing of the agreement.