Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) announced today
that it has entered into two royalty agreements with Novartis Pharma AG
that replace a previous collaboration and license agreement.
Under the first royalty agreement, Regeneron is entitled to receive
royalties on worldwide sales of Novartis’ canakinumab (ACZ885), a fully
human anti-interleukin-IL1β antibody currently under regulatory review
to treat cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) and in
development for a number of other inflammatory diseases. On the basis of
the same agreement Regeneron waives its rights to opt-in to the
development and commercialization of canakinumab.
Under the second royalty agreement, Novartis is entitled to receive
royalties on worldwide sales of a second-generation interleukin-1 Trap,
should Regeneron decide to proceed in the development of this Trap.
The financial terms of both agreements are identical in relation to
stepped royalties to be paid on the basis of future sales. They do not
include any upfront or milestone payments or any sharing of development
expenses.
The royalty agreements replace a 2003 collaboration and license
agreement under which Regeneron had the right to opt in to the
development and commercialization of Novartis’ interleukin-1 antibody
and Novartis had the right to opt in to the development and
commercialization of Regeneron’s second-generation interleukin-1 Trap.
That collaboration and license agreement has been terminated.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that
discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of
serious medical conditions. In addition to ARCALYST®
(rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use, its first commercialized
product, Regeneron has therapeutic candidates in clinical trials for the
potential treatment of cancer, eye diseases, inflammatory diseases, and
pain, and has preclinical programs in other diseases and disorders.
Additional information about Regeneron and recent news releases are
available on Regeneron’s web site at www.regeneron.com
Forward Looking Statement
This news release discusses historical information and includes
forward-looking statements about Regeneron and its products, development
programs, finances, and business, all of which involve a number of risks
and uncertainties, such as risks associated with preclinical and
clinical development of Regeneron’s drug candidates, determinations by
regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay
or restrict Regeneron’s ability to continue to develop or commercialize
its product and drug candidates, competing drugs that are superior to
Regeneron’s product and drug candidates, uncertainty of market
acceptance of Regeneron’s product and drug candidates, unanticipated
expenses, the availability and cost of capital, the costs of developing,
producing, and selling products, the potential for any collaboration
agreement, including Regeneron’s agreements with the sanofi-aventis
Group and Bayer HealthCare, to be canceled or to terminate without any
product success, risks associated with third party intellectual
property, and other material risks. A more complete description
of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron’s filings
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Regeneron does not
undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise unless required by law.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor Relations
Peter
Dworkin
914.345.7640
peter.dworkin@regeneron.com
or
Media
Relations
Laura Lindsay
914.345.7800
laura.lindsay@regeneron.com