Shire licences muscle disease treatments

Shire has agreed an exclusive licensing deal which will allow it to develop an array of molecules with potential applications as treatments for muscular and neuromuscular disorders.

The company will pay an upfront sum of $45 million (29.1 million pounds) to Accleron Pharma in exchange for rights to its activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) class of molecules outside of North America.

This collaboration will initially focus on the development of the lead ActRIIB drug candidate ACE-031, which is currently in phase IIa testing as a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Under the terms of the deal, Accleron could receive up to $165 million for the successful commercialisation of ACE-031, as well as an additional $288 million should other treatments be developed from the molecule class.

Sylvie Gregoire, president of Shire Human Genetic Therapies, said: "This collaboration is an excellent strategic fit to the work that Shire is already doing on behalf of patients with rare diseases."

Last month, Shire was given European regulatory approval for Vpirv, its new treatment for type 1 Gaucher disease.