Mariel Therapeutics to acquire Stryker's BMP-7 assets

US clinical-stage drug developer Mariel Therapeutics has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Stryker Corp's (NYSE: SYK) Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7) assets for the potential treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other organ fibrosis conditions, lupus and obesity.

Under the terms of the agreement, financial terms of which were not disclosed, Mariel acquired the rights to over 450 issued and pending patents, Stryker's BMP-7-related clinical and research data, and the associated biologic materials. Stryker will have a right of first negotiation for commercial rights in the area of osteoarthritis.

Human recombinant BMP-7 has previously been used in reconstructive bone applications in over 40,000 patients. Previous Phase I and Phase IIa trials have been completed in osteoarthritis. Mariel intends to pursue a Phase IIb/III clinical trial for osteoarthritis and Phase I trials for chronic kidney disease, as well as Alport's disease, a genetic kidney fibrosis disease.