Singapore, May 18 -- Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) and South Korea-based AriBio Co., a biopharmaceutical company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, have jointly announced the signing of an exclusive global option agreement for the development, registration, manufacturing and commercialisation of AR1001, an innovative drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The transaction adopts an "option fee plus license payment" structure. Fosun Pharma will pay AriBio a $60 million option fee and retains the right to decide whether to exercise the option within the agreed exercise period. Upon exercise of the option, Fosun Pharma will pay up to $180 million in upfront and regulatory milestone payments. Sales milestone...