Santhera Pharmaceuticals and Ipsen announced a license agreement for the development and commercialization of fipamezole (antagonist of the adrenergic alpha-2 receptor) for territories outside of North America and Japan. This first-in-class compound is currently under investigation for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease. Initiation of a first phase III study by Biovail is scheduled for 2011. Today's agreement stipulates a data sharing, under which Ipsen has the right to use these data for its own purposes.

Klaus Schollmeier, chief executive officer of Santhera, said: "We are pleased to be partnering with Ipsen to advance the potential of fipamezole as a possible first treatment for Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease. Dyskinesia is a condition that is functionally disabling to patients and limits effective treatment of the underlying Parkinson's Disease. Ipsen complements perfectly our North American partnership with Biovail. Today's agreement is another strong endorsement for fipamezole and proves that our out-licensing strategy for this innovative drug candidate is working well for the benefit of all parties."

Stéphane Thiroloix, Ipsen's executive vice-president, corporate development said:  "L-dopa induced dyskinesia is a serious unmet medical need, and we look forward to providing patients with a positive transformation in the management of their condition. This agreement with Santhera will further enrich Ipsen's pipeline with a new promising first-in-class compound thus complementing our fast-growing neurology franchise, in clear medical and operational synergy with our existing portfolio. We have been impressed with the scientific and development capabilities of both Santhera and Biovail. Ipsen will benefit from the Biovail development and collaborate fully to achieve regulatory filings excluding North America planned for 2015."

Under the agreement, Ipsen acquires the rights to fipamezole outside the United States, Canada and Japan for an upfront payment of EUR 13 million and additional payments contingent to future development, regulatory and sales milestones of up to EUR 128 million. In addition, Santhera is entitled to royalty payments on Ipsen's future net sales.

In a similar transaction in August 2009, Santhera granted Biovail (Canada's largest specialty pharmaceutical company) the development and commercial rights to fipamezole in the United States and Canada. The first Phase III study is scheduled for 2011 in the treatment of levodopa induced dyskinesia. Santhera has the right to use and sublicense data generated by Biovail for development and commercialization purposes outside of the United States and Canada. Today's agreement stipulates that Ipsen has acquired the right to use these data for its own development and commercialization purposes outside the United States, Canada and Japan, whereas the Japanese rights for fipamezole remain with Santhera.

Fipamezole is an antagonist of the adrenergic alpha-2 receptor with a novel mode of action in the treatment of dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease.  The rationale behind the development is to increase noradrenergic release in certain areas of the brain resulting in the rebalance of the distorted brain network and potentially alleviating symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease such as dyskinesia, motor fluctuations and other disturbing symptoms without exacerbating the underlying Parkinsonian features of the disease.  Encouraging phase 2b data exist in support of this rationale. Loss of motor control and dyskinesia is feature of the majority of Parkinson patients after 5 years of levodopa therapy, and remains a clear unmet medical need.

Ipsen is a global biopharmaceutical group, with sales exceeding 1 billion euros in 2009. The Group has total worldwide staff of more than 4,400 employees, of which nearly 900 contribute to the discovery and development of innovative drugs for patient care.

Santhera Pharmaceuticals is a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of severe neuromuscular diseases, an area of high unmet medical need which includes many orphan indications with no current therapy.