Amgen announced the termination of its co-development and commercialisation agreement with AstraZeneca for brodalumab, an investigational IL-17 receptor inhibitor in development for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis.

The announcement follows Amgen’s decision to concentrate on other portfolio priorities after observing suicidal ideation and behaviour events in the brodalumab programme which may result in restrictive labelling.

AstraZeneca will confirm its decision on the future development of brodalumab as soon as possible, based on further review of the data.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice president, global medicines development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said: “Data from the three AMAGINE phase III pivotal studies highlighted that brodalumab has an effective mechanism of action that delivers clinical benefit. We will fully evaluate the data and assess all options before we make our independent decision about the future of this potential medicine.”

Brodalumab is a novel human monoclonal antibody that binds to the interleukin-17 (IL-17) receptor and inhibits inflammatory signaling by blocking the binding of several IL-17 ligands to the receptor. By stopping IL-17 ligands from activating the receptor, brodalumab prevents the body from receiving signals that may lead to inflammation. The IL-17 pathway plays a central role in inducing and promoting inflammatory disease processes.

In April 2012, Amgen and AstraZeneca formed a collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise five monoclonal antibodies from Amgen’s clinical inflammation portfolio. With oversight from joint governing bodies, Amgen leads clinical development and commercialisation for brodalumab and AMG 557/MEDI5872 (Phase Ib for autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus). AstraZeneca, through its biologics arm MedImmune, leads clinical development and commercialisation for MEDI7183/AMG181 (phase II for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), MEDI2070/AMG139 (phase II for Crohn’s disease) and MEDI9929/AMG157 (phase II for asthma).