Bayer buys blood-thinning drug from Isis
pharmafile | May 5, 2015 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Bayer, Eliquis, ISIS-FXI, Isis, Xarelto, blooding thinning
German drug giant Bayer is sealing a $155 million deal with Isis Pharmaceuticals to gain access to its anti-clotting treatment ISIS-FXI.
Bayer that already has a big name in this part of its portfolio via top-selling pill Xarelto (rivaroxaban), is giving Isis $100 million upfront for ISIS-FXI – an antisense Factor XI designed to prevent blood clots without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding.
“This first-in-class FXI inhibitor perfectly complements our in-house thrombosis pipeline and is an innovative development candidate for a variety of anti-coagulation needs,” says Dr Joerg Moeller, Bayer committee member and head of development.
“We believe the novel mechanism of Factor XI inhibition may offer an additional pathway for treating patients for whom there are currently no suitable therapeutic options available. We share a common vision with Isis in developing ISIS-FXI.”
Under this new agreement Bayer will now further develop and commercialise the drug, and as part of the clinical development programme will evaluate it in patients for whom current anticoagulants may not be used – such as in those with a high risk of bleeding due to multiple co-morbidities.
Isis is eligible to receive up to $155 million in near-term payments, including the immediate $100 million up-front upon advancing a Phase II study in patients with compromised kidney function.
The US drug discovery firm is also eligible to receive milestone payments as the treatment advances toward the market, and could receive tiered royalties up to around 20% range on gross margins of ISIS-FXI.
Bayer’s Xarelto offering currently happens to be the firm’s highest grossing anticoagulant to make its way onto the market in recent years – which competes with the likes of Boehringer’s Pradaxa and Pfizer/Bristol-Myers’ Eliquis.
Clearly happy with the German company’s pedigree is Isis chief executive Stanley Crooke, who says: “We believe Bayer, a leading pharmaceutical company in the treatment of thrombotic disease, is the ideal partner for ISIS-FXI.
“Bayer has the expertise, commitment and resources to develop ISIS-FXI in areas where unmet medical needs exist. We are pleased with the value of this partnership. We believe that this transaction represents the right deal, with the right partner and the right development plan.”
Brett Wells
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