Nielsen BioSciences, Inc. (“Nielsen”), a privately-held, San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company, announced an expansion of the previously announced licensing agreement with Maruho Co., Ltd. (“Maruho”), a leading dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, for development and commercialization of CANDIN^® (Purified Candida albicans Antigen) for the treatment of common warts (Verruca vulgaris) in adolescents and adults.

This expanded agreement provides Maruho with the exclusive development and marketing rights for this investigational therapy in additional territories across Asia.

This expanded agreement further strengthens the collaboration that started between the two companies in 2023 for development and commercialization of CANDIN in Japan. Under the expanded agreement, Maruho receives the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize CANDIN in key growth markets across Asia Pacific, including China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and several countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Nielsen will receive up-front and milestone payments of up to $36 million as well as royalties on net sales in each of these additional markets

“We are delighted to announce this significant broadening of our collaboration with Maruho, which has been an outstanding partner over the last two years,” said David Burney, Nielsen President & COO. “Maruho and Nielsen see significant unmet need for an innovative treatment to address common warts across the region,” adds Christoph Wulf, VP and Head of Commercial. “We believe Maruho’s deep roots, expertise and relationships will best allow CANDIN to reach patients in need of new and effective options for the treatment of common warts.”

"Maruho is thrilled to deepen our strategic partnership with Nielsen for CANDIN, which we believe will become a core product for our global expansion across Asia," stated Yutaka Tomita, Director of the Board of Maruho and Corporate Officer, Business Development & Global Business. "Leveraging Nielsen's experience in immunology and our expertise in dermatology, we look forward to providing patients throughout Asia with a new and effective treatment option for common warts."