Amgen and Servier have completed a product-swapping collaboration involving several cardiovascular products.
The major drug involved in the deal is Servier’s Procoralan (ivabradine), which Amgen has obtained US rights to for an upfront fee of $50m plus undisclosed future milestones and royalties on sales.
The drug is currently unavailable in the US, although it is approved in Europe for chronic heart failure and stable angina in patients with elevated heart rates.
US-based Amgen will be looking to market the drug for similar use in the US and will handle regulatory filings the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In addition, Amgen also has the exclusive option to develop and commercialise Servier’s investigational molecule, S38844, for cardiovascular diseases in the US,
The drug is currently being investigated in phase II studies for the treatment of heart failure.
In return, Servier obtained an exclusive option to commercialise Amgen’s omecamtiv mecarbil in Europe.
The investigational drug is an activator of cardiac myosin and is being tested for use in heart failure patients with systolic dysfunction.
It is the most advanced drug candidate coming out of Amgen’s collaboration with Cytokinetics signed in 2006.
“A critical unmet medical need remains for patients who don’t respond adequately to current available therapies for heart failure and angina,” said Amgen’s executive VP of R&D Dr Sean Harper at the time the deal was first announced last month.
“Ivabradine, an If inhibitor, offers a novel alternative approach for patients with elevated heart rates.”