AZ strikes drug development deal with Nektar Therapeutics
pharmafile | September 22, 2009 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â AZ, NektarÂ
AstraZeneca has licenced two anti-constipation drug development programmes from Nektar Therapeutics in a deal that could be worth more than $735 million to the smaller company.
The exclusive worldwide licence agreement takes in late stage investigational product for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation NKTR-118 and the early stage programme NKTR-119, which aims to deliver pain relief products without constipation side effects.
The companies suggest that up to 90% of patients taking opiates chronically for pain management may develop constipation, but less than half find effective relief from prescription and OTC laxatives and stool softeners.
AstraZeneca chief executive David Brennan said the agreement enabled the company to apply its experience in neuroscience, oncology and gastrointestinal medicine.
“This is a good example of using externalisation to enrich the company’s late-stage pipeline,” he concluded.
AstraZeneca plans to file NKTR-118 with regulators in 2013 and says the design of the phase III programme, for which it is now responsible, is expected “in the near term”.
The company will also be responsible for global manufacturing and marketing for both.
Nektar creceived an upfront payment of $125m and could be in line for further payments of up to $235m for NKTR-118 if regulatory milestones are hit and $375m if sales prove strong enough.
The company will also be eligible for “significant” double-digit royalty payments on worldwide net sales.
NKTR-118 combines Nektar’s advanced small molecule polymer conjugate technology platform with naloxol, a derivative of the opioid-antagonist drug naloxone.
Results from the phase II trial will be presented at the American College of Gastroenterology annual scientific meeting next month.
Meanwhile, the NKTR-119 programme is intended to combine oral NKTR-118 with selected opioids in a bid to eliminate constipation side effects.
Nektar is also set to get milestone, sales and royalty payments on this, although the companies have not put a figure on them.
Nektar chief executive Howard Robin said the AstraZeneca deal “validates Nektar’s successful strategy”.
Other drugs in this therapy area include Wyeth’s Relistor, which was last year approved in the US and Europe.
The subcutaneous injection treats opioid-induced constipation in advanced illness patients who are receiving palliative care when response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient.
Nektar has helped develop a number of drugs for larger companies, including UCB’s Cimzia, Roche’s Pegasys and Amgen’s Neulasta.
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