Biogen Eyes Two Ophthalmic Biosimilars

Biogen Eyes Two Ophthalmic Biosimilars

Boston-based Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) has announced a “proposed transaction” with Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. to secure the exclusive rights to commercialize two new ophthalmology biosimilars, SB11 referencing Lucentis® and SB15 referencing Eylea®, in major markets worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. In addition, Biogen will acquire exclusive commercialization rights for Samsung Bioepis’ anti-TNF portfolio, including Benepali (etanercept), Flixabi (infliximab) and Imraldi (adalimumab), in China. Biogen will also acquire an option to extend its existing commercial agreement with Samsung Bioepis for this anti-TNF portfolio in Europe.... Read More »
Celgene Sells Otezla to Advance its Sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb

Celgene Sells Otezla to Advance its Sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) has agreed to take Otezla (apremilast) off of Celgene Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CELG) hands. The Federal Trade Commission ruled the drug had to be divested due to concerns over competition with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) pipeline. Bristol-Myers announced it was buying Celgene last January for $74 billion. In this deal, Amgen gains the worldwide rights to Otezla, the only oral, non-biologic treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and certain related assets and liabilities. Sales of Otezla in 2018 were $1.6 billion and the drug has intellectual property exclusivity in the United States at least through 2028. Amgen will pay $13.4 billion in cash,... Read More »
Amgen Teams with CytomX

Amgen Teams with CytomX

Oncology is driving some big deals, no question about it. More than 350 deals have had targets involved in some form of oncology program or drug since 2012. In the first week of October alone, we saw three deals targeting some form of oncology treatment. The one with the largest potential pay-off was announced between Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) and CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTMX). The deal has potential value of more than $1.5 billion. In this strategic collaboration, the companies will co-develop a CytomX Probody™ T-cell engaging bispecific against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a highly validated oncology target expressed on multiple human cancer types. Probody... Read More »