Partnering

VIVIMIND™ is currently commercially available in Canada and Italy and will soon be available in the Middle East, Greece and Cyprus. BELLUS Health is actively seeking to expand VIVIMIND™’s commercial reach throughout the world via strategic partnerships. To that end, BELLUS recently formed exclusive distribution partnerships in Canada with Advanced Orthomolecular Research Inc., in Italy with FB Health Inc., and in the Middle East with the Agahan Group. BELLUS is currently in active partnership discussions with several parties for the rights to VIVIMIND™ in other territories.

FB Health LLC (www.fb-health.com)
In October 2010, we entered into a strategic partnership with FB Health Inc. pursuant to which BELLUS granted FB Health exclusive distribution rights for VIVIMIND™ in Italy, for a consideration consisting of an upfront payment, commercial milestone payments should certain sales targets be achieved and product supply at a pre-agreed transfer price. Regulatory approval for the sale of VIVIMIND™ in Italy for memory function protection and the maintenance of cognitive health was granted in 2009.

 

Advanced Orthomolecular Research Inc. (www.vivimind.ca)
In January 2011 we entered into a share purchase and license agreement with Advanced Orthomolecular Inc (AOR), pursuant to which AOR acquired all issued and outstanding shares of BELLUS Health’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, OVOS Natural Health Inc. Pursuant to the License and Supply Agreement, BELLUS Health granted AOR exclusive distribution rights for VIVIMIND™ in Canada in exchange for an upfront fee and certain commercial milestones payments. In addition, BELLUS is supplying AOR with VIVIMIND active ingredient at a pre-agreed transfer price. VIVIMIND™ was granted a Natural Health Product number (NPN) from Health Canada in 2010.

 

Agahan Group (www.agahangroup.com)
In April, 2011, we entered into a broad license for Vivimind in the Middle East with the Agahan Group. Pursuant to the Agreement, BELLUS Health granted the Agahan Group exclusive distribution rights for VIVIMIND™ in Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iran and certain other Gulf states of strategic importance to the Agahan Group. BELLUS Health retained all rights to VIVIMIND™ with respect to Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The total consideration payable by the Agahan Group to BELLUS Health consists of an upfront payment, a regulatory milestone payment expected to be received in the next 12 months, commercial milestone payments should certain mutually agreed upon sales targets be achieved, and a tiered royalty rate of 15 to 17 percent, depending on sales. The Agreement also provides for BELLUS Health to supply the product to the Agahan Group at a pre-agreed transfer price. Agahan intends to launch VIVIMIND™ in the Middle East in the fourth quarter of 2011.

 

Integris Pharma
In November 2011, we entered into a strategic partnership with Integris Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coronis Research S.A., a leading independent Clinical Research Organization in Greece. Pursuant to the Agreement, Integris has secured the exclusive right to market and sell VIVIMIND™ in Greece and Cyprus. Integris Pharma intends to immediately proceed with filing for regulatory approval and expects to launch VIVIMIND™ in Greece and Cyprus in the second quarter of 2012.

 

For inquiries regarding partnership opportunities in other territories please contact:

Tony Matzouranis
Senior Director, Business Development
BELLUS HEALTH
bd@vivimind.com