Amgen reacquires rights to several products from GlaxoSmithKline

Amgen has entered into a definitive agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to reacquire all of its remaining rights to Prolia, Xgeva and Vectibix.

The deal covers 48 countries in Asia, South America, Europe, Australia and other regions, including such key expansion markets for Amgen as Brazil, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

GlaxoSmithKline has held select regional rights to Prolia and Xgeva since 2009 and to Vectibix since 2010, allowing the company to earn approximately $111 million (73.25 million pounds) in combined sales from these licences in 2014.

Amgen will make milestone payments to GlaxoSmithKline on signing and on the successful transition of the assets, and will book all product sales following this transition.

Robert Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer of Amgen, said: "This unique agreement with GlaxoSmithKline allows Amgen to regain rights to three important growth products, and to directly serve more patients in key expansion markets."