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Licensing Agreement for the Development, Manufacturing and Marketing of Anti-human Osteopontin Antibodies |
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24 Mar 2006 |
TOKYO, Japan | Mar 23, 2006 | Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”; headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Toichi Takenaka) and Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. (IBL; headquarters: Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture; president: Tsutomu Seito) have concluded a worldwide licensing agreement which rants Astellas the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and market anti-human osteopontin antibodies, including 2K1, for therapeutic use.
Osteopontin is a protein known to be involved in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, bone diseases, and cancer metastasis. In a series of joint studies on this protein, IBL and Professor Toshimitsu Uede from the Institute for Genetic Medicine of Hokkaido University succeeded in preparing an antibody (2K1) that neutralizes osteopontin’s functions. Subsequent studies undertaken by Hokkaido University, former Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and IBL have shown that 2K1 may be useful as an antibody pharmaceutical. At present, Astellas and the Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (KAKETSUKEN) are preparing clinical studies on a humanized version of this neutralized antibody.
Key conditions of the agreement
1) Including 400 million yen of an upfront payment upon conclusion of the license agreement, Astellas will make milestone payments totaling 2.5 billion yen to IBL upon the clinical studies, submission of application for marketing approval, and acquisition of approval.
2) Astellas will also pay royalties on sales to IBL.
SOURCE: Astellas Pharma Inc. |
