Amgen & Novartis expand collaboration for migraine drug Erenumab

It builds on their global neuroscience partnership in Alzheimer's disease & migraine formed in 2015

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Last Updated : Apr 25 2017 | 8:58 PM IST

Amgen has expanded commercial collaboration with Novartis for erenumab, which is being investigated for the prevention of migraine. This expanded commercial collaboration builds on a global neuroscience collaboration in Alzheimer’s disease and migraine established in 2015 between Novartis and Amgen. This expanded collaboration leverages Novartis’ strong and established presence in neuroscience to more effectively reach people with migraine. The companies have agreed to combine capabilities to co-commercialise erenumab in the US. Amgen retains exclusive commercialisation rights in Japan. Novartis gains exclusive rights to commercialise erenumab in Canada, and retains its existing commercialisation rights in rest of the world. The companies will continue global co-development.

Erenumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody specifically designed to target and block the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) receptor, believed to have a critical role in mediating the incapacitating pain of migraine. Positive data from a phase 2 study and positive top-line results for two phase 3 studies in migraine prevention were announced in 2016.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen will receive milestone payments from Novartis expected to begin in 2017. Novartis will share US commercialisation costs with Amgen. Amgen will book sales of erenumab in the US and will pay a royalty to Novartis on net sales in the US. Novartis will book sales in the rest of the world, excluding Japan, and will pay Amgen royalties on the net sales in those countries. Amgen will book sales in Japan, since it will remain an exclusive territory for the Company. Novartis will assume agreed upon remaining global development costs up to a cap and share global development costs thereafter.

This is an expansion of a global collaboration with Novartis announced in September 2015 in neuroscience, involving joint development and commercialisation of pioneering treatments in the field of Alzheimer's disease and migraine.