EQL Pharma out-licenses Memprex (methenamine hippurate) to Laboratoires Majorelle for the French market
EQL has entered into an exclusive license agreement for the French market for EQL’s product Memprex with Laboratoires Majorelle, a French leading company in women’s health.
Memprex is a methenamine hippurate-based medicine indicated for the prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). Methenamine hippurate was launched by EQL in Sweden in 2019, in the UK (via partner) in 2020 and in Norway in 2021. EQL's ambition is to offer Methenamine, using our own brand Memprex, to all other interesting markets in Europe via out-licensing.
Methenamine hippurate is the only substance that is non-inferior to antibiotics as a prophylactic to recurrent UTI while at the same time not increasing the risk for developing antibiotic resistant bacteria in the patient. Resistant E coli bacteria which are behind most UTI’s is the most fatal among multidrug resistant bacteria (MDRB).
Laboratoires Majorelle is a well-known leading pharmaceutical company in France for women’s health with very good relations with Health Authorities and specialists, as well as strong capabilities in sales and marketing.
“We are extremely happy that we will now be able to offer Memprex in France where there is currently no alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infection prophylaxis. We see Laboratoires Majorelle as the perfect partner who has the know-how, the network of specialists, and the interface to authorities that are necessary to reach the large number of women suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections." says Axel Schörling, CEO of EQL. “Furthermore, for EQL, this marks the addition of yet another branded product to our portfolio, in addition to Mellozzan. These branded products are powerful growth platforms for the future and jointly have a significant financial potential.” Schörling adds.
The agreement includes a typical license fee as an upfront payment and regulatory & reimbursement milestones, and a volume-dependent supply price generating a healthy, industrial margin for EQL. Laboratoires Majorelle expects to launch Memprex within the next two years, depending on the authorities’ timeline for registration and reimbursement.
EQL Pharma has ongoing advanced negotiations regarding Memprex with other companies for additional European countries.