Dyax partners with CVie Therapeutics for Kalbitor in Greater China

US drug developer Dyax Corp (Nasdaq: DYAX) yesterday announced a strategic partnership with CVie Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings, for the development and commercialization of Kalbitor (ecallantide) in the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) and other angioedema indications in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.

Kalbitor is currently marketed in the USA for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE in patients 16 years of age and older. In Japan, the drug is licensed to Japanese firm CMIC Co (TSE: CMIC) in a deal that involved an upfront payment of $4 million. Kalbitor is licensed to Italian drugmaker Sigma Tau throughout Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Russia in a deal worth as much as $105 million (The Pharma Letters October 18 and June 22, 2010). The Sigma Tau deal was later extended to include Latin America, excluding Mexico and the Caribbean, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea (TPL June 1, 2011).

Under the terms of the exclusive license agreement, Dyax will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive future development, regulatory and sales milestones. Dyax is also eligible to receive royalty on net product sales. CVie is solely responsible for all costs associated with development, regulatory activities, and the commercialization of Kalbitor in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Additionally, CVie will purchase drug product from Dyax on a cost-plus basis for commercial supply.