Cara, Maruishi sign licensing deal for analgesic drug

The agreement provides Maruishi with exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Cara’s CR845 for acute pain and uremic pruritus indications in Japan.

Cara Therapeutics CEO Derek Chalmers said, "This significant transaction not only provides Cara with the ability to continue the development of both the IV and oral formulations of CR845 in the U.S. but also will allow the Company to expand its clinical and commercial activities into a territory where pharma companies are now seeing double-digit growth in sales."

The peptide-based, peripherally-restricted kappa opioid receptor is being developed against acute and chronic pain in the US.

Maruishi made an up-front payment, including an equity investment, to Cara, which is eligible for milestone payments based on pre-defined clinical and regulatory events in Japan and the US, in addition to Japanese sales based royalties on marketed products containing CR845.

Maruishi president Keiichi Inoue said, "We see the CR845 program as an opportunity to expand our product line in the perioperative care market in Japan and believe that CR845 may also provide a new treatment option for patients with uremic pruritus in Japan."