Takeda and Affymax recognised for Hematide commercialisation

Takeda Pharmaceutical and Affymax have announced that they have been presented with the Breakthrough Alliance Award from Allicense in relation to their commercialisation of Hematite.

The Allicense award, sponsored by Recombinant Capital, aims to recognise those using the most innovative means to form partnerships between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Hematide is the lead product candidate from biopharmaceutical firm Affymax. It is a synthetic pegylated peptide currently in development as a treatment for anaemia in chronic kidney disease and cancer patients.

The compound operates by binding and activating the erythropoietin receptor and is currently being prepared for phase III clinical studies in patients on and not on dialysis.

Yasuchika Hasegawa, president of Takeda, said: “We are delighted to have received this award recognising our collaboration with Affymax on such a potentially important product to the worldwide anaemia market.”

He added that the firm was anticipating further progress in the development of Hematide with the goal of providing patients suffering from anaemia with a new treatment option, with the compound highlighting the firm’s plans to increase its core therapeutic franchises with novel compounds.

Last month, Takeda announced that it had signed a global licensing and research agreement with LG Life Sciences relating to the discovery, development and marketing of compounds to treat obesity.