Novartis, Amgen deal
Amgen and Novartis will co-develop and co-commercialize candidates in Alzheimer’s disease and migraine. The companies said they will combine beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor programs to treat AD. Novartis’ BACE inhibitor CNP520, which is in Phase I/IIa testing, will be the lead candidate. Amgen will make undisclosed upfront and potential milestone payments to Novartis and pay “disproportional” R&D costs for an undisclosed time frame, after which the companies will share equally global profits and costs for all AD assets. Novartis will receive global co-development rights and commercialization rights outside the U.S., Canada and Japan to Amgen’s migraine candidates, including mAbs AMG 334 and AMG 301, in return for paying “disproportional” R&D costs and double-digit royalties. Novartis will have the option to commercialize one additional migraine candidate. Both companies declined to disclose additional financial terms. ...