UCB, a leading biopharmaceutical player and Dermira, a privately held US-based dermatology company, entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and future commercialisation of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in dermatology. This collaboration aims to broaden patient access to Cimzia and make it available to patients with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disorder. .
Cimzia is not currently approved for the treatment of psoriasis by any regulatory authority. .
Under the terms of the agreement, UCB grants Dermira an exclusive license to develop certolizumab pegol for psoriasis in the US, Canada and the European Union. Dermira will be responsible for phase III development costs and will receive payments of up to $49.5 million on the achievement of development and regulatory milestones. .
Subject to regulatory approval of Cimzia in psoriasis, Dermira is granted an exclusive commercial license to market Cimzia to dermatologists in the US and Canada. UCB will record the sales and Dermira will receive tiered royalty payments on those product sales which are attributable to dermatologists in the US and Canada and up to $40 million upon the achievement of tiered commercial milestones. In support of the partnership, UCB has made a $5 million equity investment in Dermira and a commitment to invest up to an additional $15 million in future Dermira equity financings. .
Professor Dr Iris Loew-Friedrich, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UCB said, “The Dermira team has a track record in dermatology drug development and commercialization and we look forward to our collaboration. Since the first US approval of Cimzia in 2008, we continue to evaluate its potential across severe immunological diseases with the goal of bringing this treatment option to more patients.” .
The exploratory phase II studies in patients with plaque psoriasis have shown promising data that support further clinical development. In addition, the improvement in psoriasis skin symptoms observed in patients with significant skin involvement in the pivotal RAPID Psoriatic Arthritis study, were consistent with those seen in our Phase 2 study in patients with plaque psoriasis. The RAPID study supported the approval of Cimzia in psoriatic arthritis in US and EU in 2013. With Dermira, we now have a strong specialized partner with whom to move forward to make Cimzia available to patients living with psoriasis and their physicians.”