Forest Laboratories acquires rights to antiarrhythmic agent

Forest Laboratories has agreed a deal with Blue Ash Therapeutics to acquire global rights to a novel antiarrhythmic agent called azimilide.

The drug, which is currently in phase III clinical development, has demonstrated potential efficacy among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and a history of ventricular arrhythmias.

It was originally developed by Procter and Gamble and sold to Warner Chilcott as part of the divesture of its pharmaceutical business, with Blue Ash acquiring a licence for the drug in 2010.

Forest will therefore pay milestone-based fees to both Warner Chilcott and Blue Ash as it takes responsibility for all future development and commercialisation activities relating to azimilide.

Howard Solomon, chief executive officer and president of Forest, confirmed that it will be looking into releasing the drug outside the US, as this would "help expand our ex-US commercial presence in specialty markets".

Earlier this month, the company completed a takeover of Clinical Data, the developer of the antidepressant treatment Viibryd.