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LONDON (AFX) - AstraZeneca PLC said it will license an anti-inflammatory
cardiovascular drug from US company AtheroGenics Inc in a deal worth up to 1 bln
usd to the American group.
The product, AGI-1067, is an investigational oral drug for the treatment of
atherosclerosis, a disease that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The drug
is in phase III development in the Aggressive Reduction of Inflammation Stops
Events (ARISE) trial. The study is due to report in the second half of 2006.
AstraZeneca said it will pay AtheroGenics an upfront fee of 50 mln usd and
development and regulatory milestones of up to 300 mln. It may pay further
sales-performance related milestones of up to a further 650 mln usd.
In addition, AtheroGenics will get royalties on product sales.
"This collaboration with AtheroGenics, is an important step in AstraZeneca's
plans to further strengthen its cardiovascular franchise," said Dr John
Patterson, executive director of development at AstraZeneca. "AGI-1067 has the
real potential to further enhance our position among the leaders in
cardiovascular medicine."
AtheroGenics will be responsibility for the ongoing ARISE Phase III clinical
trial and for regulatory filings in the US, while AstraZeneca will oversee the
marketing, sales and distribution of AGI-1067 on a worldwide basis and be
responsible for all non-US regulatory filings.