EUSA Pharma Inc, a transatlantic specialty pharmaceutical company, has out-licensed the exclusive world-wide rights to its preclinical-stage human anti-interleukin-6 antibody to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for a consideration of up to $44 million, comprising an upfront fee and development milestones, plus royalties on future sales.

As part of the agreement EUSA will pay approximately 50 per cent of the overall consideration to its development partner for the antibody, Vaccinex Inc. GSK will fund and conduct all future development, production and commercialization of the product.

Interleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and B-cell growth factor and acts as a resistance factor to standard chemotherapy. EUSA's product, OP-R003, is the first fully human anti-interleukin-6 antibody, with target indications in oncology and inflammatory diseases. OP-R003 is derived from a first generation murine antibody, elsilimomab, which has achieved promising clinical results as a lymphoma therapy. As a fully human antibody, OP-R003 has the potential to offer improved tolerability and a superior safety profile.

EUSA acquired OP-R003 as part of the company's 2007 acquisition of OPi SA. OPi had previously entered a collaboration with Vaccinex, a specialist antibody discovery and development company, to optimize and develop OP-R003 as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma.

"The out-licensing of this early-stage antibody is another strategic milestone for EUSA, as we continue to focus our business on marketed and late-stage products in the oncology, pain control and critical care areas," said Bryan Morton, chief executive, EUSA Pharma.

Commenting on the acquisition, Brian McVeigh, director, M&A Strategy and Transactions, Worldwide Business Development, GSK said, "Interleukin-6 is increasingly recognized as an important biological target in a range of diseases, and consequently OP-R003 has great potential to meet a number of unmet medical needs."

EUSA Pharma is a rapidly growing transatlantic specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing and marketing late-stage oncology, pain control and critical care products.