Medivation to Host Conference Call/Webcast Today at 8:30 a.m.
Eastern Time
Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and Medivation, Inc.(NASDAQ: MDVN) announced
today that they have entered into an agreement to develop and
commercialize Dimebon, Medivation’s
investigational drug for treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease and Huntington’s disease. Dimebon
currently is being evaluated in an international, confirmatory Phase III
trial in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s
disease (www.connectionstudy.com).
Under the terms of the agreement, Medivation will receive an up-front
cash payment of $225 million. Medivation also is eligible to receive
payments of up to $500 million upon the attainment of development and
regulatory milestones plus additional undisclosed commercial milestone
payments. Medivation and Pfizer will collaborate on the Phase III
program in Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s
disease development and regulatory filings in the United States. The
companies will share all U.S. development and commercialization expenses
along with U.S. profits/losses on a 60 percent/40 percent basis, with
Pfizer assuming the larger share of both expenses and profit/losses. In
addition, Medivation will co-promote Dimebon to specialty physicians in
the U.S.
Pfizer will have responsibility for development, regulatory and
commercialization outside the U.S. and will pay Medivation tiered
royalties on commercial sales outside of the U.S. The agreement is
subject to approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976. J.P. Morgan served as financial advisor, and Cooley Godward
Kronish LLP served as legal advisor, to Medivation on this transaction.
Alzheimer’s disease leads to the death of
brain cells and the loss of nerve connections in areas of the brain that
govern memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s
disease gradually destroys a person’s memory
and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry-out
daily activities. No currently marketed Alzheimer’s
disease drug appears to stop brain cell death and prevent or restore
lost nerve connections.
Dimebon is an orally-available, small molecule that has been shown to
inhibit brain cell death in preclinical models relevant to Alzheimer’s
disease and Huntington’s disease, making it a
potential treatment for these and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Based on preclinical data generated to date, Dimebon appears to improve
the function of mitochondria, the energy generators in cells that play a
vital role in governing brain cell health, growth and overall function.
Dimebon also has been shown to stimulate the outgrowth of nerves from
brain cells, or neurites, a process that is believed to play an
important role in restoring or generating new brain cell connections.
“With more than 18 million people worldwide
suffering from the debilitating and ultimately fatal effects of Alzheimer’s
disease, Pfizer has made this devastating illness one of our highest
priorities,” said Dr. Martin Mackay,
president, Pfizer Global Research and Development. “We
are working to develop new medicines that improve memory and halt or
significantly slow the disease’s progression.