Sanofi-Aventis signs deal with Japanese biotech
pharmafile | May 15, 2009 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |Â Â Sanofi-AventisÂ
Sanofi-Aventis has signed an early-stage research deal with biotech Kyowa Hakko Kirin, and will receive rights to its preclinical stage inflammation molecule.
The companies say the anti-LIGHT fully human monoclonal antibody could be first-in-class in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Marc Cluzel, senior vice president of R&D, said Sanofi-Aventis was pleased with the agreement which would strengthen its pipeline in the area.
He added: "There are very important breakthroughs in the field of inflammation like anti-TNFs but unfortunately not all patients benefit from these new therapies. Anti-LIGHT antibody may represent an alternative therapy for those patients."
LIGHT stands for Lymphotoxin-like, exhibits Inducible expression, and competes with HSV Glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes. It's a novel member of the Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) family – proteins in the body that destroy tumour cells but can also attack healthy cells, as in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
The antibody against LIGHT inhibits this action, and could become an immune-regulatory agent.
If approved the technology will join the competitive market of TNF-blockers, which includes blockbusters such as Johnson & Johnson's Remicade, Wyeth/Amgen's Enbrel and Abbott's Humira. Orencia from BMS has joined them more recently.
The anti-TNF treatments have generally successfully expanded their uses from RA to other autoimmune diseases.
Kyowa Hakko Kirin was created in 2008 by the merger of Kyowa Hakko's pharmaceutical business and Kirin Pharma. The company claims to be one of the world's leading R&D-centric life science corporations originating in Japan, supported by a core business of pharmaceuticals.
Under the terms of the agreement Sanofi-Aventis will have exclusive rights to develop the product worldwide, except in Japan and other Asian countries where both parties will co-develop the product.
Kyowa Hakko Kirin retains rights to market the product in Japan and in Asia, while Sanofi-Aventis has exclusive rights to market and sell the product in the rest of the world.
Kyowa Hakko Kirin will receive upfront and milestone payments depending on the successful achievement of certain development steps, the total value of which could reach $315 million.
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