Salix Pharmaceuticals ("Salix"), one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc., announced that its affiliate has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Japan to develop and commercialize MT-1303 (amiselimod), a late-stage oral compound that targets the sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor that plays a role in autoimmune diseases, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis.

Under the agreement, MTPC grants Bausch Health exclusive rights to develop and commercialize MT-1303 worldwide, except for Japan and certain other countries in Asia, in all fields, excluding neurology, rheumatology and certain rare dermatology diseases, where MTPC retains the rights. Bausch plans to initiate development of MT-1303 in ulcerative colitis. Under the terms of the license, Bausch Health will pay to MTPC a one-time up-front payment, as well as certain development and regulatory-based milestone payments and sales-based royalties.