AstraZeneca unit MedImmune in-licenses anti-inflammatory MAb from Amgen; latter's Sensipar patent upheld

In a second deal in the space of a month for MedImmune, a US unit of Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN), the company has in-licensing from US biotech leader Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) a novel monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-1 pathway, AMG 108, a fully-human MAb to the IL-1 receptor, which has been studied in multiple Phase I and II clinical trials. It will now be explored by MedImmune for its potential against certain inflammatory diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen grants MedImmune rights to develop AMG 108 worldwide, outside of Japan. Terms of the agreement include an upfront payment, development-related milestones for multiple indications and royalties on sale of a commercial product. Financial details will not be disclosed, but the company said the compound will further strengthen its inflammatory disease pipeline.

"Recent data indicates the importance of the IL-1 pathway in a variety of inflammatory conditions, and AMG 108 represents a compelling opportunity to explore this antibody's activity against various diseases for which patients need new treatment options," said Bahija Jallal, executive vice president of R&D at MedImmune.