Biogen Idec and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum have restructured the collaboration agreement for the companies' long-acting, recombinant Factor VIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) in haemophilia A patients and the recombinant Factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc) in haemophilia B patients.
Under the amended agreement, Biogen Idec will assume full development responsibilities and costs, as well as manufacturing rights for the rFVIIIFc and rFIXFc programs. Biogen Idec also gains marketing responsibility for the rest-of-world territories that had previously been shared between the two companies, in addition to its existing commercial rights in North America. Swedish Orphan Biovitrum will retain commercial rights in Europe, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East. The cross-royalty rate has been reduced for both companies. The royalty rates will be further adjusted until Biogen Idec's increased costs are reimbursed.
"Biogen Idec's clinical and manufacturing expertise, combined with its global commercial organization, continue to make it an ideal partner for us in the haemophilia disease area, an area with high medical needs," said Martin Nicklasson, CEO of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum. "Additionally, we will now be able to focus on delivering value in the rest of our exciting and promising development pipeline and current commercial product portfolio, while improving our near term cost-base."
"We appreciate our evolving and continued partnership with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, which is focused on the very important mission of treating patients with rare diseases," said James C Mullen, president and CEO of Biogen Idec. "The updated agreement fits with Biogen Idec's recognition of the potential of these innovative products to make a significant difference in the lives of people with haemophilia A and B and with our own strengths in manufacturing, development and the global commercialization of products."
Haemophilia is a rare, inherited disorder in which the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired. Hemophilia A occurs in about one in 10,000 male births annually and is caused by having substantially reduced or no Factor VIII protein, which is needed for normal blood clotting.
Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is a global leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies.
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum is a Swedish based specialty pharmaceutical company with an international market presence.