07:24 AM EDT, 08/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Amphastar Pharmaceuticals ( AMPH ) said Tuesday it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Nanjing Anji Biotechnology to develop and commercialize three peptide-based therapies in the US and Canada.

Under the agreement, Amphastar said it paid $6 million upfront, including $0.75 million earnest money, and could pay Anji up to $453 million in total, including development and sales milestone payments, plus royalties of 5% on net sales.

The company said the agreement covers an endogenous peptide that potentially suppresses growth and metastasis of multiple poorly treated cancers, a peptide-docetaxel conjugate to improve the selectivity and bioavailability of docetaxel, and an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor peptide developed as a topical eye drop to treat wet age-related macular degeneration.

Anji retains commercialization rights outside the US and Canada and will pay Amphastar a small royalty on sales, the company said.

The agreement is valid for 10 years from the first commercial sale in each region, with an option to extend based on patent coverage, Amphastar said.

Shares of Amphastar were up more than 4% in recent premarket activity Tuesday.