AstraZeneca licenses gout drug Zurampic to Grünenthal in Europe and Latin America
pharmafile | June 2, 2016 | News story | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | AstraZeneca, Grunenthal, Licencing, Zurampic, gout, sales
UK drugmaker AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) on Thursday said it has entered into a licensing agreement worth up to $230 million giving Grünenthal GmbH rights to the gout drug Zurampic (lesinurad) in Europe and Latin America.
Under the terms or the agreement, Germany-based Grünenthal will pay AstraZeneca up to $230 million in sales and other related milestones over the contract period. Grünenthal will also pay tiered, low double-digit royalties on annual product sales. AstraZeneca will initially manufacture and supply Zurampic to Grünenthal and will undertake the European post-approval commitment on Grünenthal’s behalf.
From 1 October 2021, Grünenthal has the option to take over manufacturing of Zurampic.
Zurampic was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in February 2016, in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI), for the adjunctive treatment of hyperuricemia (excess of uric acid in the blood) in adult patients with uncontrolled gout.
Luke Miels, executive vice president, global product and portfolio strategy, AstraZeneca, said: “Grünenthal has an established presence across European and Latin American markets and extensive expertise in inflammatory diseases. This agreement allows us to further focus our resources on our strategic priorities.”
Grünenthal will acquire the exclusive rights to Zurampic in all 28 European Union member states, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein, and in all Latin-American countries including Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. In addition, Grünenthal will also get the exclusive rights to the fixed-dose combination of lesinurad and allopurinol in these markets. This combination is currently in clinical trials.
Gout is a chronic, progressive and potentially debilitating form of inflammatory arthritis that affects more than 7.8 million people in the major European and Latin American markets.
Grünenthal Chief Executive Eric-Paul Pâques, said: “Zurampic is a strong addition to our existing portfolio of innovative therapies in the areas of inflammatory diseases and chronic pain.”
Anjali Shukla
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