Array BioPharma Inc and Amgen Inc entered into an agreement granting Amgen exclusive worldwide rights to Array's small-molecule glucokinase activator programme, including ARRY-403, currently being tested in a phase-1 clinical trial in patients with type-2 diabetes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Array will receive an upfront payment of US$ 60 million and additional contingent payments for certain clinical and commercial milestones. Array is responsible for completing the phase-1 trial for ARRY-403. Amgen is responsible for future clinical development and commercialization for ARRY-403 and any resulting back-up compounds, with Array having an option to co-promote in the United States. Array will receive double digit royalties on sales of ARRY-403. In addition, Amgen will fund an agreed upon number of full-time Array employees as part of a two-year research collaboration intended to identify and advance second-generation glucokinase activators.

"Type-2 diabetes affects over 20 million Americans and its incidence is increasing at an alarming rate," said Roger M Perlmutter, Amgen's executive vice president of Research and Development. "We are pleased to be collaborating with Array BioPharma in this arena, and are excited about the potential of this glucokinase activator. Type-2 diabetes has long been an important focus of research for Amgen, and the addition of ARRY-403 clearly strengthens our diabetes pipeline."

"The glucokinase activator ARRY-403 is a member of a new class of drugs targeting type-2 diabetes, and we're delighted to partner with Amgen to develop and commercialize this novel therapy for diabetic patients," said Robert E Conway, chief executive officer, Array BioPharma. "Amgen is a leading innovator of important new therapies, with a focus on the treatment of severe, chronic diseases, and we believe that this collaboration indicates the significant potential of our glucokinase activator program."

In normal individuals, the pancreas secretes insulin in response to increased levels of glucose in the blood. Glucokinase (GK) is the enzyme that senses glucose in the pancreas.

ARRY-403 is a potent, selective and orally administered small molecule glucokinase activator. In multiple preclinical models of type-2 diabetes, ARRY-403 was studied in controlling both fasting and non-fasting blood glucose by itself and in combination with other existing standard-of-care diabetes drugs.

Array BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted small molecule drugs to treat patients afflicted with cancer, inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient.