Roche signs licensing agreement on rheumatoid arthritis drug

Roche has announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Toyama Chemical for the global research, development and marketing of the company’s innovative orally-administered rheumatoid arthritis compound T-5224.

T-5224 is currently in phase I of clinical development and operates by inhibiting a specific inflammatory process in the body in order to block the symptoms or rheumatoid arthritis and potentially halt the destruction of bone and joints in patients.

According to the terms of the agreement, Roche has exclusive global research, development and sales rights to the compound worldwide outside of Japan, with this agreement also covering back-up drug candidates to this medication.

In exchange, the company will pay Toyama Chemical an initial sum and additional milestone payments of up to of $370 million (185 million pounds), in addition to sales royalties.

Jean-Jacques Garaud, head of pharmaceutical development at Roche, said: “The agent T-5224 has the potential to inhibit a key trigger of rheumatoid arthritis and has already shown promising pharmacological efficacy and safety in early clinical studies.”

He added that this partnership agreement is “good news” for both companies and those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, with this drug complementing the firm’s existing inflammation portfolio.

Earlier this month, Roche announced “significant” study results from the first phase III rheumatoid arthritis study of Actemra outside of Japan.