News briefs: Auxilium/Pfizer accord; Novartis Signifor and RLX030 developments

US specialty drugmaker Auxilium Pharmaceuticals’ (Nasdaq: AUXL) shares fell 7.2% to $18.60 at close of New York trading yesterday, after the company revealed that drugs behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has terminated its collaboration agreement for the development, commercialization and supply of the Dupuytren's contracture treatment Xiapex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), in the European Union and certain other European and Eurasian countries, effective no later than April 24, 2013.

Prior to the mutual termination date, the parties will continue to perform all of their obligations as described in the Collaboration Agreement. After the termination date, rights to commercialize Xiapex and responsibility for regulatory activities for Xiapex in these countries will revert to Auxilium.

Also, Auxilium announced that it has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for Xiaflex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum or CCH), a novel, in-office, first-in-class biologic therapy for the potential treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD). Xiaflex for the treatment of PD was granted orphan drug designation in the USA in January 1996 and, if approved by the FDA, is expected to be the first and only biologic therapy indicated for the treatment of PD. Xiaflex is currently approved in the U.S., EU and Canada for the treatment of adult Dupuytren's contracture patients with a palpable cord.