Everest Medicines, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Shanghai, announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Shaanxi Micot Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd (Micot), based in Xi’an, China. Under the terms of the agreement, Everest Medicines secures the exclusive rights to commercialize MT1013, a first-in-class dual-targeting polypeptide, in China and the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan. Micot retains ownership and responsibility for the clinical development and manufacturing of the asset.

Everest Medicines will pay Micot an upfront payment of RMB 200 million (USD 27.6 million). The agreement also includes potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments totaling up to RMB 1,040 million (USD 143.5 million). Development expenses for the ongoing clinical programs will be covered by Micot, while Everest Medicines focuses on the commercial launch and distribution following regulatory clearance.

Deal context

MT1013 is a dual-targeting receptor agonist polypeptide designed to simultaneously target the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and the osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) receptor. The primary indication is secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), a serious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) characterized by parathyroid hormone imbalances and bone metabolism disorders. The molecule is currently in a Phase III clinical trial in China (NCT06413238) using cinacalcet as an active comparator, with over 50% of target enrollment already achieved. Data from a previous Phase II study, presented at the 2025 American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting, indicated that MT1013 achieved rapid and sustained suppression of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels with a favorable safety profile compared to current therapies.

For Everest Medicines, this agreement expands its nephrology and autoimmune portfolio, transitioning the company from a focus on IgA nephropathy into broader chronic kidney disease complications. The deal aligns with the licensee’s strategy of acquiring late-stage assets to leverage its established commercial infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific market. Everest Medicines has maintained an active in-licensing trajectory, notably securing rights to Nefecon from Calliditas Therapeutics in Q1 2023 and partnering with Kezar Life Sciences for zetomipzomib in Q3 2022.

The partnership marks the first formal collaboration between Everest Medicines and Micot, another example of the growing trend in “domestic-to-domestic” licensing within China’s biopharma sector.