Amgen and AstraZeneca to work on anti-inflammatory drugs
AZ to make an upfront payment of US$50m to Amgen
US biotechnology firm Amgen and UK drugmaker AstraZeneca have agreed to develop and sell five monoclonal antibodies currently in Amgen's clinical inflammation portfolio.
Under the terms of the deal, AstraZeneca will make an upfront payment of US$50m to biotechnology firm Amgen and fund about 65% of the costs associated with the drugs from 2012–2014, after which the companies will share costs and profits on treatments for a variety of autoimmune, inflammatory and respiratory diseases.
The collaboration will provide Amgen with additional resources to help advance its product portfolio.
AstraZeneca will lead the development and commercial strategy of AMG 139, AMG 157 and AMG 181, while Amgen will lead the development and commercial strategy of brodalumab (AMG 827) and AMG 557.
For brodalumab, commercial promotion will be split. Amgen will promote in dermatology indications in the US and Canada, and in rheumatology indications in the US, Canada and Europe. AstraZeneca will promote in respiratory and, initially, in dermatology indications of brodalumab across all territories outside the US, Canada and those markets where Amgen has existing partnerships.