Collegium Pays Grünenthal $17 Million to End Nucynta Disputes
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. agreed to pay Grünenthal GmbH $17,000,000 to settle all disputes between the companies, including patent infringement claims related to Nucynta ER. The settlement was reached on October 15, 2026, and resulted in the mutual termination of a 2015 license agreement and a 2020 consent agreement. This development resolves the litigation that Grünenthal filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in February 2026.
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. agreed to pay Grünenthal GmbH $17,000,000 to settle all disputes between the companies, including patent infringement claims related to Nucynta ER. The settlement was reached on October 15, 2026, and resulted in the mutual termination of a 2015 license agreement and a 2020 consent agreement. This development resolves the litigation that Grünenthal filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in February 2026.
The parties entered into a Settlement Agreement to discharge all obligations under the Grünenthal License. As a result, no further royalties will be due to Grünenthal under that license. The Consent Agreement, originally dated January 30, 2020, is terminated solely with respect to the Territory defined within that document. For all other aspects, the Consent Agreement remains in full force and effect according to its original terms.
The Nucynta Products were acquired by Collegium in 2020 as part of its expansion. The original License Agreement with Grünenthal was dated January 13, 2015. Collegium assumed this agreement through the Consent Agreement, which involved Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. as well. The current dispute stemmed from the launch of the authorized generic for Nucynta ER, which Grünenthal alleged infringed its patents.
Under the terms of the new settlement, Grünenthal assigned certain patents related to the Nucynta Products to Collegium. Additionally, Grünenthal filed a motion to dismiss the Nucynta Litigation. The $17,000,000 payment was made by Collegium to Grünenthal effective October 15, 2026. This payment finalized the termination of the financial obligations associated with the Grünenthal License.
Collegium Pharmaceutical reported these events in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report was signed by Colleen Tupper, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, on October 19, 2026. The company is incorporated in Virginia and its principal executive offices are located in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Its common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol COLL.
The settlement eliminates the patent infringement claims that had been active since early 2026. By terminating the license and consent agreement provisions regarding the Territory, Collegium secures a clear path for its Nucynta products without ongoing royalty payments to Grünenthal. The assignment of patents further strengthens Collegium's position regarding these products. The dismissal of the litigation concludes the legal conflict initiated by Grünenthal's complaint in New Jersey.