Amgen and Daiichi Sankyo sign denosumab agreement

Amgen has announced the signing of a collaboration and licensing agreement relating to the development and marketing of denosumab, a potential treatment for bone-loss conditions including bone metastases and osteoporosis.

Under the terms of the deal, Daiichi Sankyo will pay Amgen an initial fee of $20 (9.9 million pounds), while also assuming all development costs for the compound in Japan and $150 million of international development costs until 2009.

In return, Daiichi Sankyo has been granted the development and marketing rights to the compound in Japan for use in oncology and post-menopausal osteoporosis, with the possible extension of these rights for other indications of the drug.

Through the agreement, Amgen will receive comparable rights to intellectual property owned by Daiichi Sankyo.

Takashi Shoda, president and chief executive officer at Daiichi Sankyo, said: “Daiichi Sankyo is thrilled to partner with a world leader in biotechnology to gain access to this important antibody product.”

He added that the compound has the potential to be a leading product for the treatment of a range of indications at the firm, with its potential in oncology making the drug an important cornerstone of the company’s growing business operations in this field.

In February 2006, Amgen reported the results of a phase II clinical study showing that denosumab had increased bone density in post-menopausal women.