GlaxoSmithKline and Amicus to ally on Fabry disease drug

GlaxoSmithKline is to collaborate with Amicus Therapeutics on the development and commercialisation of a new treatment for Fabry disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder.

The deal will see GlaxoSmithKline pay an upfront fee of $30 million (18.8 million pounds) in exchange for global rights to sell Amicus' migalastat HCl-based therapy Amigal.

It is currently in the phase III testing stage having demonstrated promise in early-phase clinical studies, with GlaxoSmithKline and Amicus set to jointly fund and organise the remainder of its development process.

In addition, the companies will be looking to assess the possible benefits of co-administering the drug alongside enzyme replacement therapy as a separate treatment option.

Marc Dunoyer, global head of GlaxoSmithKline Rare Diseases, said: "Amicus' scientific and clinical expertise in human genetic diseases is among the best in the industry and we are pleased to be collaborators and investors in this exceptional company."

Last month, Mr Dunoyer said the company is looking to increase its commitment to developing rare disease therapies by adopting new business and research models.