Roche Licenses Novel Oral Rheumatoid Arthritis Agent From Japanese Firm Toyama

Roche and Toyama Chemical have entered a licensing agreement valued at up to $370 million for the Japanese company's novel Phase I oral rheumatoid arthritis agent T-5224, the companies announced June 25.

Under the agreement, Roche has exclusive rights to research, develop and sell T-5224 and its backup candidates worldwide, except in Japan, where Toyama will retain exclusive rights. Toyama will receive upfront and milestone payments and is eligible for royalties based on net sales of the product by Roche.

T-5224 is an inhibitor of Activator Protein-1 with the potential to block signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the progressive destruction of joint and bone, Roche said.

The compound "complements Roche's developing portfolio of drug candidates in inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis," Roche Head of Pharma Development Jean-Jacques Garaud said. The company said it anticipates that its "emerging franchise in autoimmune diseases" will be one of the "most important drivers for growth" for the company over the next few years.

Earlier this month, the company reported positive results for its novel interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor Actemra (tocilzumab) for RA and said it plans to submit the biologic in the fourth quarter of this year ("The Pink Sheet" DAILY, June 7, 2007).

Roche also counts MabThera (rituximab) as part of its RA portfolio. Rituximab is comarketed in the U.S. by Genentech and Biogen Idec as Rituxan and in the rest of the world except Japan by Roche as MabThera. In Japan, MabThera is comarketed by Roche subsidiary Chugai and Zenyaku Kogyo. Roche is majority owner of Genentech.

Genentech and Biogen also are developing a second-generation anti-CD20 candidate, ocrelizumab, which entered Phase III for RA late last year.

- Shirley Haley

This article is reprinted from "The Pink Sheet" DAILY – June 26, 2007

Click here to start your 30-day, risk-free trial of "The Pink Sheet" DAILY – Immediate business intelligence from the company and product level up.

© FDC Reports 2007 - All Rights Reserved