German pharmaceutical company Dr. Wolff Group has agreed to license its new tripeptide substance, KdPT, to China’s Link Health for further development. The tripeptide has shown very good results for several inflammatory conditions.

The license gives the Guangzhou-based company the exclusive right to develop and market KdPT in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. Link Health will perform and finance the entire clinical development of KdPT in China for all inflammatory conditions, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and others.

Before it is approved by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (CSFDA), further clinical trials must be conducted in China as well.

Dr. Wolff will receive a series of payments worth millions over several years, depending on the stage of development and the status of approval for various indications. Christoph Abels, Dr. Wolff’s medical director, said the company decided to out-license KdPT as inflammatory bowel disease was not one of its core areas for development.

KdPT is said to act very quickly – significant improvement is apparent after only two weeks with maximum effect achieved after six weeks. The treatment is most effective in patients who have already been treated with standard therapies and steroids.

Dr. Wolff said since around 40% of patients do not respond adequately to standard treatment, there was an urgent need for a drug to close the gap between the usual therapies and cortisone or immunosuppressants.