Brickell Biotech Inc., a US-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company has signed an exclusive license and development agreement for BBI-4000 with Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a top-tier specialty pharmaceutical company in Japan with strong experience in developing and commercializing novel dermatological drugs.

Under the terms of the license and development agreement, Kaken will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialize BBI-4000 in Japan, the second largest dermatology market in the world, and certain other Asian countries.

Brickell will receive an upfront payment from Kaken as well as milestone payments based on the achievement of certain objectives. Tiered royalties that will be adjusted based on sales are expected to be paid to Brickell following the launch of BBI-4000 in those markets. Kaken will also assume responsibility for certain global R&D activities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BBI-4000 is a novel, topical soft-anticholinergic currently undergoing testing in a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled Phase 2b clinical trial in 180 patients with primary axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis in the U.S. An estimated eight million people in the U.S. (3% of the population suffer from hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.)