Orexigen, Takeda deal

Orexigen granted Takeda exclusive rights to commercialize obesity candidate Contrave in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Orexigen, which retains a right to co-promote Contrave in the U.S., will receive $50 million up front and is eligible for more than $1 billion in regulatory and sales milestones, including $100 million between approval of Contrave and market launch.

The fixed dose combination of naltrexone and bupropion is under FDA review with a Jan. 31, 2011, PDUFA date. An FDA panel is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7 to discuss the candidate. ...