Array BioPharma demands $192m after AstraZeneca refuses to pay royalties

pharmafile | February 2, 2018 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing |  Array Biopharma, AstraZeneca, lawsuit, selemetinib 

Array BioPharma has launched a lawsuit against AstraZeneca over allegations the latter has refused to pay royalties it owes for cancer drug selumetinib and is demanding at least $192 million from the pharma giant, according to the complaint filed with the New York Supreme Court.

After originally discovering the compound, Array licensed selumetinib the drug to AZ in 2003, allowing the company to research its potential cancer treatment applications in return for 12% royalties on sums for sub-licensees.

With AZ having entered into a partnership with MSD over the drug and with $192 million about to change hands as part of the deal, the amount Array is asking for represents the 12% of this sum originally agreed – a total which Array has called “absurdly small.”

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The AZ-MSD deal was originally signed in July last year, and aims to develop and commercialise AZ’s Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with PD-L1/PD-1 immuno-oncology medicines Imfinzi and Keytruda.

Both companies have agreed to have the dispute settled by New York courts.

Matt Fellows

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