AstraZeneca signs deal with Rigel on RA treatment
pharmafile | February 17, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | AZ, Rigel, rheumatoid arthritis
AstraZeneca is looking to enter the lucrative rheumatoid arthritis market by in-licensing a phase II treatment.
The global market for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is now worth $13bn, having grown from $1.3bn in 1998, thanks the arrival of new medicines such as the TNF-blockers.
Now AstraZeneca hope that a new first-in-class treatment from Californian company Rigel Pharmaceuticals can help it take a share of the market.
Rigel’s fostamatinib disodium (R788) has completed phase II trials, which makes it the furthest-developed oral spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor being evaluated for RA, the companies say.
AstraZeneca will pay Rigel $100 million up front, with a further $345 million to come if development, regulatory and commercial sale milestones are passed.
Rigel could also be eligible for $800 million more in sales-related payments and royalties, while the deal also gives AstraZeneca rights to indications beyond RA.
The drug is being developed as a next generation oral RA therapy in adults who have failed to respond adequately to a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), and where a TNF biologic add-on treatment would currently be considered.
Inhibiting Syk is thought to block the intracellular signalling of immune cells implicated in the destruction of bone and cartilage.
“AstraZeneca looks forward to working together with Rigel to continue development of this innovative investigational compound,” said Anders Ekblom, AstraZeneca executive vice president of development.
“Collaborations such as this one, which further strengthen our late-stage pipeline, demonstrate the key role externalisation continues to play in AstraZeneca’s strategy.”
The manufacturer will also get exclusive rights to Rigel’s other oral Syk inhibitors while taking over all development, regulatory filings, manufacturing and global commercialisation activities for R788.
It plans to start a global phase III programme in the second half of the year and aims to file new drug applications in the US and Europe in 2013.
Just a year ago Rigel was forced to cast off 20% of its workforce – 36 staff – as it waited for results on R788.
“The work we have begun for patients with this disease will be completed with a substantially larger clinical programme,” said Rigel chief executive James M. Gower.
RA is an autoimmune inflammatory disease which damages joints and other organs and affects around one in 100 people.
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