Exicure Stock Surges On Over $1B Option Licensing Pact With Ipsen For Rare Neurodegenerative Disorders

Ipsen SA IPSEY and Exicure Inc XCUR have collaborated to research, develop, and commercialize novel Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) as potential investigational treatments for Huntington's disease and Angelman syndrome.
Oligonucleotides are synthetic structures of nucleic acids that can be used to modulate gene expression via a range of processes, including gene activation, inhibition, and splice-modulation.
Under the agreement, Ipsen will receive exclusive options to license SNA-based therapeutics, and it will pay Exicure a cash upfront payment of $20 million.
Exicure will be responsible for the discovery and certain preclinical development activities.
If Ipsen chooses to exercise its option, it will be responsible for further developing and commercializing the licensed products.
Exicure will receive a $20 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $1 billion in option exercise fees and milestone payments should Ipsen opt into both programs, as well as tiered royalties.
Price Action: XCUR shares are up 31.1% at $1.77 during the premarket session on the last check Monday.