Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, has signed an agreement with UK-based Cobra Biologics Ltd. to manufacture, additional cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and BLA (Biologics License Application) batches for AA4500. Auxilium currently anticipates that this manufacturing activity will be completed by the end of 2006.
"The financial guidance for 2006 that we reported on 21st June, 2006, anticipated the costs that we expect to incur under this agreement," stated Jim Fickenscher, Auxilium's chief financial officer.
The agreement does not cover long-term production of AA4500 for commercial sale, but the companies will be discussing a non-exclusive long-term supply agreement for AA4500 during the second half of 2006.