Evommune licenses Hinova autoimmune drug in up to $1.1 billion deal
EVMN•Evommune licensed rights outside Greater China to develop, manufacture and commercialize Hinova’s experimental autoimmune drug EVO570 in a deal with up to about $1.1 billion in milestone payments. Evommune will pay $30 million upfront, and plans to start a mid-stage rheumatoid arthritis study in 2027.
1. Licensing agreement
Evommune said it licensed rights outside Greater China to EVO570, an experimental oral drug designed to treat autoimmune diseases by targeting VAV1, a protein involved in activating immune cells. The California-based drug developer will pay Hinova $30 million upfront: $20 million in cash and $10 million in pre-funded warrants to purchase Evommune stock.
2. Milestones and study plans
Hinova is eligible for up to about $1.1 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future sales. Evommune plans to start a mid-stage study of EVO570 in rheumatoid arthritis in 2027.
3. Pipeline expansion
The deal expands Evommune’s pipeline of treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases and gives it a potential entry into immunology research focused on VAV1. Hinova, based in Chengdu, develops treatments for cancer, autoimmune and metabolic diseases and already markets a prostate cancer therapy in China.
