Servier acquires rights to new therapy from MacroGenics

Servier has exercised its exclusive option to develop and commercialise a promising new treatment from its collaborative partner MacroGenics.

The deal pertains to MGD006, a humanised dual?affinity retargeting molecule in development for the treatment of haematologic malignancies. A phase I trial of the drug as a therapy for relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukaemia is expected to begin later this year.

Servier will gain exclusive development and commercial rights to the compound in all countries outside of the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and India, with MacroGenics receiving a $15 million (9.01 million pounds) payment in return.

The company also has options to purchase two similar molecules from MacroGenics under the terms of their agreement.

Dr Emmanuel Canet, president of research and development at Servier, said: "We are committed to moving this candidate into clinical development in collaboration with MacroGenics and continuing to build our long-term partnership."

This comes after Servier recently announced that it has extended its oncology research partnership with Curie-Cancer for an additional three years.