Roche unit in partial patent deal with Regeneron over Eylea; new indication for Avastin

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: REGN) says it has entered into a non-exclusive license and partial settlement agreement with Genentech, part of Swiss drug major Roche (SIX: ROG) relating to US ophthalmic sales of Eylea (aflibercept) Injection.

The drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last fall for the treatment of patients with neovascular wet age-related macular degeneration (The Pharma Letter November 21, 2011). Germany’s Bayer (BAY: DE) has rights to commercialize Eylea outside the USA. It is equivalent to Roche's Lucentis (ranibizumab) which generates annual revenues of about $1.5 billion. Lucentis, which is approved for wet AMD and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, was developed by Swiss drug major Novartis and Genentech, and is an antibody fragment that is injected into the eye and acts by neutralizing vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF.

Outstanding litigation continues