Amphastar licenses three peptide therapies in oncology, ophthalmology deal

Published 12/08/2025, 11:34
Amphastar licenses three peptide therapies in oncology, ophthalmology deal

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH), a pharmaceutical company currently valued at $1.27 billion with a strong financial health score according to InvestingPro, has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Nanjing Anji Biotechnology Co., Ltd. for three proprietary peptide therapies targeting oncology and ophthalmology indications in the United States and Canada.

The licensed products include an endogenous peptide designed to suppress growth and metastasis of multiple cancers, a peptide-docetaxel conjugate aimed at reducing toxicity while improving efficacy of taxane therapies, and an anti-VEGFR peptide developed as a topical eye drop for wet age-related macular degeneration.

Under the agreement, Amphastar made an upfront payment of $5.25 million and an earnest money payment of $0.75 million. The deal includes potential development milestone payments of up to $42 million and sales milestone payments of up to $225 million. Amphastar will also pay Anji 5% royalty payments on net sales, with a maximum accumulated amount of $60 million for each licensed product.

"This collaboration significantly expands our pipeline with three potentially best-in-class peptide assets, targeting high-growth markets across oncology and ophthalmology," said Dr. Jack Zhang, Amphastar’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in the press release.

The agreement will expire on a product-by-product and region-by-region basis ten years after the first commercial sale of each product, with Amphastar having the right to extend for an additional ten years.

Amphastar, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing, and marketing complex generic and proprietary injectable, inhalation, and intranasal products, manufactures all of its drug products in the United States and produces active pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, China, and France.

In other recent news, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.85, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $0.74. The company also achieved revenues of $174.4 million, slightly exceeding the forecast of $174.0 million. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Amphastar’s generic iron sucrose injection for treating iron deficiency anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. The approved product will be available in three dosage forms and is planned for launch in the third quarter of 2025. Piper Sandler, however, lowered its price target for Amphastar from $30.00 to $25.00, citing competitive headwinds, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. These developments reflect Amphastar’s ongoing efforts to expand its product offerings and navigate market challenges.

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