Item 8.01 Other Events.
Nasdaq Bid Price Requirement
On October 24, 2023, Fortress Biotech, Inc. (the “Company” or “Fortress”) was formally notified by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that the Company has evidenced compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rules 5550(a)(2), and that accordingly, the listing matter has been closed.
Cyprium CUTX-101 Development Transfer
As previously disclosed, on February 24, 2021, Cyprium Therapeutics, Inc. (“Cyprium”), a private subsidiary of Fortress, entered into a development and asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc. (“Sentynl”), a U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical company owned by the Zydus Group. Under the Agreement, Sentynl provided certain development funding for Cyprium’s CUTX-101 program, with Cyprium remaining in control of development of such program; upon approval of the New Drug Application (“NDA”) for CUTX-101 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), Cyprium is obligated to assign the NDA and certain other assets pertaining to the CUTX-101 program to Sentynl, after which point Sentynl will commercialize the drug and owe Cyprium royalties and regulatory and sales milestones.
As also previously disclosed, the Agreement contains an alternative “Approval Deadline Transfer” mechanism pursuant to which, in the event that CUTX-101 NDA approval has not been obtained by September 30, 2023, then Sentynl may elect, during the subsequent 45-day period, to assume control over development of CUTX-101. Following such election, Sentynl will be obligated under the Agreement to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize CUTX-101, including the funding of the same. Additionally, following such election, Cyprium remains eligible to receive up to $133.5 million in aggregate development and sales milestones under the Agreement and royalties on net sales of CUTX-101 as follows: (i) 3% of annual net sales up to $75 million; (ii) 8.75% of annual net sales between $75 million and $100 million; and (iii) 12.5% of annual net sales in excess of $100 million.
The Company has received notice of Sentynl’s election to effect the Approval Deadline Transfer, with closing of such transfer anticipated to occur in November 2023. Cyprium expects the Approval Deadline Transfer will result in a reduction in its development-related spending on the CUTX-101 program. Cyprium will retain 100% ownership over any FDA priority review voucher that may be issued at NDA approval for CUTX-101.