Allergan acquires rights to pioneering IBS treatment from Almirall
pharmafile | October 29, 2015 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Allergan, Constella, IBS, linaclotide
Allergan and its commercialisation partner Ironwood Pharmaceuticals have announced that Allergan has acquired the rights to Constella.
The companies have acquired Constella (linaclotide) in the European Union, Switzerland, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States, from Almirall. They also reacquired the rights to Linzess (linaclotide) in Mexico from Almirall.
Under the terms of the agreement, Allerganm – who is reportedly in talks with Pfizer over a merger – acquired an exclusive license for Constella in these countries. The license agreement includes the development and commercialisation of Constella for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and other gastrointestinal (GI) conditions.
Constella, which was originally discovered by Ironwood scientists, was approved in 2012 by the European Commission for the symptomatic treatment of moderate-to-severe IBS-C in adults.
An estimated 10 to 15 percent of the European population suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, one third of which are thought to have specifically IBS-C. Constella is the only available prescription treatment option for IBS-C in Europe.
Paul Navarre, executive vice president and president of international brands at Allergan, hailed the deal as good news for people with the condition. “The acquisition of rights for Constella in these international markets is the next step towards our goal of becoming an even stronger partner for physicians globally seeking innovative therapies for their patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders,” he says.
“This agreement allows us to add Constella to our existing GI portfolio in select countries internationally and paves the way for future GI treatments in our own pipeline.”
“Constella is the only prescription product approved for IBS-C patients in Europe, providing them with a treatment option that can improve symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and constipation which are associated with this disorder,” adds Tom McCourt, chief commercial officer of Ironwood. “With Allergan’s strong global commercial presence, including experience in Europe commercialising both specialty and primary care brands, we look forward to their efforts to bring Constella to adult IBS-C patients internationally.”
Prior to this acquisition, linaclotide was marketed in a number of European countries under the brand name Constella through a license agreement between Ironwood and Almirall.
Linaclotide was approved in 2014 in Mexico as a treatment for adults suffering from IBS-C or CIC under the brand name Linzess and was marketed by Almirall through a sublicense from Allergan. Allergan and Ironwood co-develop and co-commercialise linaclotide under the brand name Linzess in the US and Allergan is commercialising linaclotide in Canada under the brand name Constella.
Joel Levy
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