San Diego - April 26, 2021 - Cooley advised biotechnology company Cidara Therapeutics on its exclusive worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to develop and commercialize Cidara's Cloudbreak antiviral conjugates for the prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Partners Jane Adams and Tanisha James led the Cooley team advising Cidara.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Cidara will be responsible for the development and manufacturing of the first influenza antiviral conjugates, CD388, into the clinic and through phase 2 clinical development, and Janssen will be responsible for late-stage development, manufacturing, registration and global commercialization. Cidara will receive a $27 million upfront payment and will be eligible to receive up to $753 million in budgeted research and development funding and in development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on worldwide sales. 

"This collaboration represents a significant advancement toward fulfilling our vision of providing universal, seasonal protection against all seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza," Jeffrey Stein, president and chief executive officer of Cidara, said in a news release. "We believe Janssen, with its expertise in the development and commercialization of vaccines and therapies for viral respiratory diseases, is the ideal partner to rapidly advance CD388."

The effectiveness of the agreement is subject to the expiration or earlier termination of all applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

Headquartered in San Diego, Cidara develops long-acting therapeutics designed to transform the standard of care for patients facing serious fungal or viral infections. Its portfolio includes its lead antifungal candidate, rezafungin, in addition to antiviral conjugates for the prevention and treatment of influenza and other viral diseases from its proprietary Cloudbreak antiviral platform.

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