Taiwan-based Lotus Pharmaceuticals, and American firms Alvogen and NRx Pharmaceuticals have entered into a global collaboration agreement. 

The collaboration aims to develop and commercialise NRX-101 specifically for the treatment of suicidal treatment-resistant bipolar depression (S-TRBD) in global markets. Moreover, this collaboration aims to address the therapeutic needs of patients with suicidal treatment-resistant bipolar depression (S-TRBD), a condition for which effective treatment options are limited. 

Under the terms of the agreement, relating to NRX-101 for the US market, NRx is entitled to receive an initial payment of $10 million upon achieving both a successful read-out from the ongoing Phase 2b/3 clinical trial in S-TRB and completion of a Type B meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  

NRx would receive an additional payment of $5 million upon receipt of FDA approval for NRX-101 as well as bonus milestone payments of increasing amounts up to $330 million based on reaching certain net sales targets.

Lotus Pharmaceuticals will acquire the global rights for NRX-101, and leverage their direct commercial presence in certain Asian markets to promote and distribute NRX-101 to those in need.

NRX-101 is an innovative oral antidepressant currently undergoing late-stage clinical studies. It targets the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain, which potentially provides a significant breakthrough in the treatment of depression, both with and without suicidality.