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AG-120 would be the second investigational medicine licensed by Celgene
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:AGIO), a firm focused on cancer metabolism and rare genetic disorders of metabolism, today announced that its collaboration partner Celgene Corporation has agreed that it will exercise its option to obtain an exclusive license outside the United States for AG-120, a first-in-class, oral, potent inhibitor of the mutant IDH1 protein under the terms of the 2010 collaboration agreement.
This would be the second IDH mutant inhibitor to be licensed by Celgene in less than a year.
AG-120 is currently being evaluated in two Phase 1 dose escalation trials, one in advanced hematologic malignancies and the other in advanced solid tumors. Both trials are evaluating AG-120 in patients whose cancer harbors an IDH1 mutation. The first data from the AG-120 program were presented at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on November 19, 2014 in advanced hematologic malignancies.
Agios expects to report the first data from the Phase 1 advanced solid tumor trial at a medical conference in 2015. Celgene’s exercise of the option is subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals including any applicable clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Agios is webcasting its corporate presentation from the 33rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference today at 2:30 p.m. PST (5:30 p.m. EST). The presentation will be followed by a webcast of its question and answer session at 3:00 p.m. PST (6:00 p.m. EST).
“Celgene’s continued support of our investigational cancer medicines is of great importance to us, and we are pleased that they have agreed to license ex-U.S. rights to AG-120 while we retain full U.S. development and commercialization rights,” said David Schenkein, M.D., chief executive officer of Agios. “We believe their decision demonstrates the potential opportunity of AG-120 and continues to validate our cancer metabolism platform and precision medicine approach to drug development. The combined development and commercial expertise of Agios and Celgene would allow us to expedite development of AG-120, and make this medicine available as soon as possible to patients globally.”
“Licensing AG-120 would strengthen our collaboration with Agios and our commitment to innovative therapeutics in cancer metabolism,” said Thomas Daniel, M.D., president of research & early development at Celgene. “The progress with AG-120 reinforces the value of Celgene’s collaboration strategy with early stage companies pursuing potentially disruptive therapeutic research in emerging high potential areas.”
Agios and Celgene entered into a global strategic collaboration in April 2010 to develop new therapeutics targeting cancer metabolism. By exercising its exclusive option under the terms of the agreement, Celgene would lead development and commercialization outside the United States for AG-120, and Agios and Celgene would equally fund the global development costs of AG-120 that are not specific to any particular region or country.
Celgene would be responsible for development and commercialization costs specific to countries outside the United States, and Agios would be responsible for development and commercialization costs specific to the United States.Celgene would be eligible to receive royalties on any net sales in the U.S. Agios would be eligible to receive royalties on any net sales outside the U.S. and up to $120 million in payments on achievement of certain milestones.
