AstraZeneca and Valeant announce brodalumab development collaboration

AstraZeneca has announced a new drug development collaboration with Valeant Pharmaceuticals, centring on the IL-17 receptor monoclonal antibody brodalumab.

The drug is in development for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, with data from the three AMAGINE phase III pivotal studies having demonstrated its safety and efficacy.

Under the agreement, Valeant will gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialise brodalumab globally, except in Japan and certain other Asian countries, where rights are held by Kyowa Hakko Kirin.

Valeant will assume all development costs associated with the regulatory approval for brodalumab, with regulatory submissions planned in the US and EU for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer at AstraZeneca, said: "Our agreement will help to bring brodalumab to patients with psoriasis who need new treatment options through Valeant's expert focus on dermatology."

The move will allow AstraZeneca to continue to its sharpen focus on its main therapy areas.