GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Amicus Therapeutics (Amicus) announced a definitive agreement to develop and commercialise Amigal (migalastat HCl), currently in phase 3 for the treatment of Fabry disease, a rare inherited disorder. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will receive an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialise migalastat HCl. Additionally, as part of the agreement, GSK and Amicus also intend to advance clinical studies exploring the co-administration of migalastat HCl with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the treatment of Fabry disease.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amicus will receive an upfront license payment of $30 million from GSK and is eligible to receive further payments of approximately $170 million upon the successful achievement of development and commercialisation milestones, as well as tiered double-digit royalties on global sales of migalastat HCl. GSK and Amicus will jointly fund development costs in accordance with an agreed upon development plan. Additionally, as part of the collaboration, GSK is purchasing 6.9 million shares of Amicus common stock at a price of $4.56 per share. The total value of this equity investment to Amicus is $31 million and represents a 19.9 per cent ownership position for GSK in the Company. The total cash upfront to Amicus from GSK for the license payment and equity investment is approximately $60 million.

“This strategic collaboration is another significant milestone in delivering our vision for GSK Rare Diseases. Amicus' scientific and clinical expertise in human genetic diseases is among the best in the industry, and we are pleased to be collaborators and investors in this exceptional company” said Marc Dunoyer, Global Head of GSK Rare Diseases. “Our focus now is to continue to advance Amigal for Fabry disease and it is our hope to deliver a first-in-class, oral medicine to the thousands of people worldwide living with this devastating rare disease.”

John F. Crowley, chairman and chief executive officer of Amicus Therapeutics said, “The completion of this agreement with GSK is a transformational event for Amicus. It provides a strong validation of the potential for Amigal to become an important new treatment option for people living with Fabry disease and for our pharmacological chaperone technology broadly. GSK has extremely impressive global clinical, regulatory and commercial expertise and a strong commitment to the development of treatments for rare diseases. We look forward to working in close partnership with them.” Crowley continued, “With this key strategic alliance with GSK and the added financial strength it provides, Amicus is now uniquely positioned to build shareholder value through our expertise in rare disease drug development.”

Migalastat HCl is an investigational treatment for Fabry disease and has the potential to be the first in a new class of oral, small molecule medicines called pharmacological chaperones. It is designed to selectively bind to and stabilize the target enzyme a-galactosidase A (a-Gal A), which facilitates proper trafficking of the enzyme to the lysosomes, where it is needed to break down the target substrate globotriaosylceramide (GL-3).

Results from phase 2 studies of migalastat HCl, which has orphan designation in both the US and EU, demonstrated that in subjects identified as responders to migalastat HCl treatment resulted in increased levels of a-Gal A, reduced levels of GL-3 as measured in renal interstitial capillary cells from kidney biopsies and in urine, and a potential positive impact on renal function. Treatment with migalastat HCl has been generally well-tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events. The most common adverse events were headache, arthralgia and diarrhoea.

A phase 3 study (Study 011) commenced in the second quarter of 2009 and treatment of the first patient began in the fourth quarter of 2009. This ongoing study is a 6-month, randomised, double-blind trial comparing migalastat HCl to placebo in 60 subjects in approximately 40 investigational sites worldwide. The surrogate primary endpoint is the change in the amount of kidney interstitial capillary GL-3. Subjects being enrolled are Fabry patients who have never received enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), or who have not received ERT for at least 6 months, and who have a mutation responsive to migalastat HCl.

GSK and Amicus today provided an update to the enrolment timeline for Study 011. Enrolment is now expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011 and preliminary results are expected to be announced in the second half of 2011.

Furthermore, a separate Phase 3 study (Study 012) is expected to commence before year end. The study will be an 18-month, randomised, open-label study comparing migalastat HCl to ERT in approximately 60 subjects. The primary outcome of efficacy will be renal function as measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Fabry disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of an enzyme called a-galactosidase A (a-Gal A). The role of a-Gal A within the body is to break down a complex lipid called globotriaosylceramide (GL-3). Reduced or absent levels of a-Gal A activity leads to the accumulation of GL-3 in the affected tissues, including the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, and skin. This accumulation of GL-3 is believed to cause the various symptoms of Fabry disease, including pain, kidney failure, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

It is currently estimated that Fabry disease affects approximately 5,000 to 10,000 people worldwide.

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Amicus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare diseases. The company is developing orally-administered, small molecule drugs called pharmacological chaperones, a novel, first-in-class approach to treating a broad range of diseases including lysosomal storage disorders and CNS diseases.