Biogen Idec enters hypertension drug partnership

Biotgen Idec has signed a new deal to release a drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), it was announced today.

The manufacturer has signed a partnership with mondoBiotech AG, which aims to lead to the development, manufacture and commercialisation of Aviptadil – a drug to be used for the treatment of PAH.

The deal will see $5 million worth of equity investment in mondoBiotech in addition to a $7.5 million initial payment and $30 million for each milestone in the development and commercialisation of the drug in the US.

Aviptadil is synthetically produced peptide, with phase II studies indicating that it improves physical exercise in patients suffering from PAH. It furthermore shows no adverse effects, with larger trials seeking to fully define the role it plays in therapy.

James C Mullen, president and chief executive of mondoBiotech, commented that Aviptadil has the potential to be an “important therapy in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension”, which currently has “few effective treatments for patients.”

Fabio Cavqalli, chief executive of Biogen Idec, added: “Biogen Idec is a premier biotechnology partner with a global structure, excellent clinical development and commercialisation capabilities and a strong record of accomplishments.

“We are excited to enter this collaboration which is a validation for our business model addressing fatal and rare lung diseases.”

Recently Biogen Idec said its Rituxan drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis had met a phase II endpoint.