Biogen licenses oral psoriasis therapy from Fumapharm
US-based biotech company Biogen has licensed from Fumapharm, of Lucerne in Switzerland, exclusive rights to develop and market a new oral therapy for psoriasis entering Phase III clinical trials in Europe.
US-based biotech company Biogen has licensed from Fumapharm, of Lucerne in Switzerland, exclusive rights to develop and market a new oral therapy for psoriasis entering Phase III clinical trials in Europe.
Under the agreement, Biogen will receive worldwide development and marketing rights, excluding Germany. Financial terms of the agreement were not released.
Fumapharm is a second-generation fumarate derivative with an immunomodulatory mechanism of action, and has completed a Phase II clinical trial of the second-generation product in psoriasis. Biogen plans to collaborate with Fumapharm to accelerate the Phase III clinical development and registration programme worldwide.
A first-generation product is currently marketed as Fumaderm in Germany, where it is the leading prescription for oral systemic treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
'Biogen and Fumapharm will work closely together to fully utilise the potential of this promising product. This license agreement provides not only the re-sources, but also combines the know- how necessary to conduct all stages of research, development and marketing,' said Dr Hans Peter Strebel, president and ceo of Fumapharm.