Ireland-based Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Denmark’s clinical-stage biopharma company Saniona have entered into a global licensing agreement, giving Jazz exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise SAN2355, a highly selective Kv7.2/Kv7.3 activator currently in preclinical development for epilepsy and other neurological conditions.  

The compound is designed to overcome the safety and dosing limitations of earlier, non-selective Kv7-targeting agents.

Under the agreement, Jazz Jazz will lead and fund further development, regulatory submissions, and global commercialization activities.

Saniona will receive an upfront payment of USD 42.5 million, with the potential for up to USD 192.5 million in development and regulatory milestones—including a USD 7.5 million payment upon initiation of the first Phase 1 clinical study —as well as up to USD 800 million in commercial milestone payments based on the achievement of significant and pre-specified annual net sales thresholds.

Saniona is also eligible for tiered royalties ranging from the mid-single to low-double digits on net sales of commercial products resulting from the development of SAN2355.

"SAN2355 is a unique and highly promising preclinical asset that has the potential to become a best-in-class Kv7 activator for the treatment of epilepsy. We are pleased to enter this exclusive agreement with Saniona to lead the SAN2355 clinical development program," said Robert Iannone, executive vice president, global head of research and development, and chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

"This transaction further expands our early-stage neuroscience pipeline, building on our existing expertise in the treatment of epilepsy,” he added.

Thomas Feldthus, CEO of Saniona, highlighted their mission to expand treatment possibilities for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

"Our collaboration with Jazz leverages their leading position in epilepsy and their strong track record of rapidly advancing clinical development programs and effectively commercialising novel therapies in neuroscience, positioning SAN2355 as a promising option for epilepsy and neurological conditions, while enabling us to advance several of our other valuable pipeline programs to key inflection points,” he said. 

"Jazz's commitment to develop life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases aligns with our mission to improve outcomes for those affected by neurological and psychiatric disorders, and both companies aim to expand treatment possibilities for patients in need,” he added.

SAN2355 is a preclinical, selective small molecule activator of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 potassium channels, a mechanism validated for seizure suppression. Prior Kv7-targeting agents have demonstrated clinical efficacy, but dosing appears to be limited by adverse events associated with off-target activation. SAN2355 is uniquely selective for Kv7.2/Kv7.3, the Kv7-subtypes responsible for seizure suppression, and avoids activation of other Kv7-subtypes. This selectivity enables SAN2355 to deliver dosing to optimal efficacy and supports its potential as a best-in-class treatment for epilepsy.

Headquartered in?Dublin, Ireland, Jazz is a global biopharma company focused on developing potentially life-changing medicines for serious diseases, with a portfolio spanning sleep disorders, epilepsy, and oncology.

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saniona is a clinical-stage biopharma company dedicated to discovering and developing innovative treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Alongside SAN2355, its pipeline includes SAN2219 for epilepsy, SAN2465 for major depressive disorder.