UPDATE: Roche, Plexxikon In Drug Deal Potentially Worth $335 Million
Roche, based in Basel, will pay Plexxikon $60 million upfront for the global rights to develop and sell a drug candidate codenamed PLX5568, as well as a number of additional undisclosed potential drug candidates.
Plexxikon could receive a further $275 million over the term of the partnership if certain milestones in the development of treatments for the disease, called polycystic kidney disease, are met, the companies said.
Plexxikon will be responsible for any discovery and early development through completion of early-stage clinical trials, including those currently being conducted for PLX5568.
The companies plan to start intermediate trials of the drug later in 2009, provided early-stage testing shows it promises to be safe and effective.
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disease in which cysts form in the kidneys, causing them to become progressively enlarged, ultimately leading to loss of kidney function in most patients. Currently, there are no treatments for it and patients may eventually require kidney transplantation or dialysis. In the U.S., the disease affects around 600,000 people.
At 1125 GMT, Roche shares were up CHF1.70, or 1%, at CHF171.60, in a lower Swiss market. So far this year, the stock has risen 5.6%, in line with the European healthcare stocks sector, which in times of economic uncertainty benefits from its defensive attributes.
Company Web Site: http://www.roche.com
http://www.plexxikon.com
-By Anita Greil, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 8044 ; anita.greil@dowjones.com
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Publié le 08 janvier 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones
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