GlaxoSmithKline hands Amicus rights to new Fabry disease therapy

GlaxoSmithKline and Amicus Therapeutics have revised the terms of their collaborative development of a new therapy for Fabry disease.

Under the new-look arrangements, Amicus will have sole rights to global drug development, regulatory and commercial activities for migalastat HCl, which is being assessed as a monotherapy and in combination with enzyme replacement therapy in the treatment of Fabry disease.

GlaxoSmithKline will still be eligible for future regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalty payments, while it will also be supporting the ongoing research via an equity investment in Amicus.

Major milestones are expected to be achieved in the ongoing development programmes for migalastat HCl in 2014.

Moncef Slaoui, chairman of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "We believe Amicus is well-positioned to maintain momentum of the programmes, maximising their potential for success, which we hope will provide benefit to patients living with Fabry disease."

This comes in the same week the company received European regulatory approval for Relvar Ellipta, its new therapy for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.