Glenmark, Sanofi end licensing pact for new MS therapy

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' licensing deal with Sanofi for a new molecule, Vatelizumab, aimed at treating multiple sclerosis (MS), has ended with the French drug major deciding against pursuing it as the molecule did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint.
The Indian drug major said it is now looking to re-license its monoclonal antibody Vatelizumab (GBR 500) after its return from Sanofi.
"Sanofi has made the decision not to pursue further Vatelizumab as a potential relapsing-remitting MS therapy, following the results of a pre-planned interim analysis that revealed the primary efficacy endpoint was not met," Glenmark said as a part of its management discussion and analysis report on the second quarter results.

"Glenmark will continue to pursue the re-licensing of GBR 500 after it's returned from Sanofi," it added.
Vatelizumab was licensed to Sanofi for testing in a multiple sclerosis (MS) Phase II clinical study, Glenmark said.
In May 2011, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals had announced that it had out-licenced its novel monoclonal antibody, GBR 500, to Sanofi for a consideration of around USD 613 million.

Under the pact Sanofi was to have exclusive marketing rights for products developed using GBR 500 in North America, Europe, Japan, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, while it will co-market the products with Glenmark in Russia, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

Glenmark was to retain exclusive marketing rights in India and other countries in the rest of the world.
Shares of Glenmark closed at Rs 943.75 per scrip, down 4.47 per cent on the BSE.