Bayer buys new thrombosis and hypertension drugs

Bayer HealthCare (BHC) is to collaborate with California-based Nuvelo on commercialising a novel thrombolytic or blood clot dissolver, currently in clinical phase III development. The compound, alfimeprase, directly degrades fibrin and has been shown in clinical studies to provide rapid clot dissolution.

Wolfgang Plischke, president of BHC's pharmaceutical division said: 'Thrombosis-related diseases are highly prevalent, and alfimeprase's ability to rapidly dissolve clots in clinical trials conducted to date suggest it may be the ideal complement to our range of products that address coagulation and thrombosis.'

Because of the late-stage development status of alfimeprase, Nuvelo is eligible to receive up to $385m (€318m) in milestone payments including a $50m (€40m) up-front cash payment. BHC will pick up 40% of the costs for the global development programmes. Nuvelo will be responsible for the other 60% and will design and conduct the programmes. BHC will commercialise alfimeprase in all territories outside the US and will pay Nuvelo sales-dependent tiered royalties ranging up from 15%-37.5%. Nuvelo retains commercial rights in the US.

BHC has also bought the European business of Boehringer Ingelheim's blood pressure treatment telmisartan (Pritor and PritorPlus) from GlaxoSmithKline. With an annual turnover of around €65m in 2005, telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is a long-acting anti-hypertensive treatment that provides 24hr blood pressure control. With a growth rate of about 15%, ARBs are the fastest-growing and most competitive segment of the European hypertension market. No financial details were disclosed.