UCB and Biogen Idec collaborate for new MS therapy

UCB and Biogen Idec have announced an agreement which will see the firms jointly develop and commercialise a new treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

The treatment, CDP323, is an orally active small molecule a4-integrin inhibitor, which is expected to enter Phase II clinical trials in 2007.

Successful during phase I development, the safety and tolerability of CDP323 have been studied in healthy volunteers in three separate projects, where an adverse event profile comparable to that of the placebo was demonstrated.

Under the joint agreement, UCB, a Brussels-based biopharmaceutical firm, will receive funds for developing and commercialising the drug, while Biogen Idec will contribute to the clinical costs for phase II and phase III of development. All development expenditure and profits are to be shared equally between the two organisations.

Melanie Lee, executive vice president of research and development at UCB, welcomed the alliance, saying: “CDP323 has arisen from UCB’s in-depth understanding of integrin biology and chemistry to address this difficult protein target.
“Our outstanding phase I results encourage us to move rapidly into phase II trials in MS patients.”

Biogen Idec is a US-based development and commercialisation firm specialising in oncology, neurology and immunology.

Last week, UCB announced the acquisition of Schwarz Pharma for 4.4 billion euros (three billion pounds).