An affiliate of Irish biopharmaceutical company Horizon Pharma has entered into a definitive agreement with German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim International, to take over the rights to interferon gamma-1b.
Boehringer commercialises interferon gamma-1b in almost 30 countries, mainly across Europe and the Middle East under the trade names IMUKIN, IMUKINE, IMMUKIN and IMMUKINE.
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Horizon Pharma president and chief executive officer Timothy Walbert said: "Obtaining worldwide rights for interferon gamma-1b solidifies our continued investment in the medicine, and pending the outcome of clinical studies investigating it in Friedreich’s ataxia and advanced solid tumours, such as kidney and bladder cancer, strengthens our ability to expand its potential global use."
Under the deal, Horizon Pharma has already paid €5m to Boehringer Ingelheim on signing the agreement.
Upon closing of the transaction, the Irish biopharmaceutical company will also have to pay another €20m to gain the rights for interferon gamma-1b in all territories outside of Canada, the US and Japan.
The current deal with Boehringer has enabled Horizon to begin investing in associated manufacturing, regulatory, supply chain, as well as commercial activities for interferon gamma-1b.
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By GlobalDataAs per the terms of another agreement Horizon Pharma entered into with an undisclosed third party, the biopharmaceutical company has licensed the European, the US and Canadian intellectual property rights for interferon gamma-1b for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia.
At present, interferon gamma-1b is not indicated or approved to treat Friedreich’s ataxia.
