Jinsheng Ren,Chairman and CEO of Simcere commented:

"This licensing agreement represents an important and exciting step in pursuing Simcere's mission of providing today's patients with medicines of the future. There are over 200 million people in China who suffer from chronic insomnia that may benefit from daridorexant. Patients are eager for a better treatment option that improves quality of sleep and next day functioning. Simcere has a proven track record of successfully developing and marketing innovative Central Nervous System therapies in China. In collaboration with Idorsia, we hope to bring another impactful medicine to millions of people."

Under the agreement, Simcere will be granted an exclusive right to develop and commercialize daridorexant in the Greater China region (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau), one of the world's largest pharmaceutical markets. Simcere will be responsible for the funding and conducting of a local development program with Chinese patients. Simcere successfully commercializes Sanbexin for acute ischemic stroke and daridorexant will expand Simcere's pipeline of Central Nervous System (CNS) products in China.

According to the terms of the agreement, Idorsia will receive a US$ 30 million upfront payment, and will be eligible to receive an additional milestone payment of US$ 20 million upon regulatory approval by the National Medical Products Administration, as well as commercial milestone payments and low double-digit tiered royalties based upon future sales.

Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and Chief Executive Officer of Idorsia commented:

"Daridorexant is on track to becoming a global success, helping the millions of sufferers of insomnia around the world. Marketed as QUVIVIQ, we expect daridorexant will soon be the leading branded insomnia medication in the US in terms of new prescriptions. It is also the first dual orexin receptor antagonist available to patients in Europe, and recent positive data in Japan gives me confidence that we can make it available there too. We have been convinced of Simcere's shared enthusiasm for daridorexant, and I am confident that they are the right partner to join us on our mission of bringing an optimal treatment approach to patients with insomnia around the world by developing and commercializing daridorexant in China."