NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc has executed an agreement with Amgen Inc to promote Kineret, a biologic therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in the United States. Kineret could be an excellent alternative when an anti-TNF therapy provides an inadequate response.

The agreement between NPS and Amgen calls for Amgen to supply product, materials and support to NPS. In return, NPS will promote Kineret and receive a percentage of incremental Kineret revenues. NPS will be the exclusive representative of the drug to rheumatologists. It is anticipated that NPS will have trained sales representatives in the field to detail Kineret to physicians in the first quarter of 2005, a release from NPS said.

Dr. Hunter Jackson, chairman, president and CEO said, "This is an important opportunity for our company. We believe our promotion of Kineret will help to introduce NPS to the rheumatology community and enhance our ability to also market PREOS, once it is approved. Having a specialty sales force in place earlier than otherwise possible assures that our sales representatives will be well trained with established relationships among our target audience."

The agreement accelerates the creation of a sales and marketing organization by NPS in preparation for launching the company's investigational drug candidate, Preos, which is being studied for the treatment of osteoporosis, the release said.

Kineret (anakinra) is a form of the human interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using an E. coli bacterial expression system. Kineret is supplied in single use pre-filled glass syringes as a sterile, clear, colourless-to-white, preservative-free solution for daily subcutaneous administration.