AbbVie and Galapagos Alliance to Develop Cystic-Fibrosis Therapies

Galapagos and AbbVie have entered into a global alliance to discover, develop, and commercialize novel potentiator and combination therapies in cystic fibrosis (CF), AbbVie announced in a press release. AbbVie and Galapagos will work collaboratively to contribute technologies and resources to develop and commercialize oral drugs that address the main mutations in CF patients, including F508del and G551D. The goal of the collaboration is to identify compounds that correct defects in expression of (corrector) and/or increase the activity (potentiator) of the main mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein, including the F508del mutation, which is the most common with 90% prevalence among patients with CF.

In the alliance, AbbVie and Galapagos will develop potentiators and correctors discovered by Galapagos and expand the range of molecules, with the aim to initiate Phase 1 clinical studies at the end of 2014. Following successful clinical development and regulatory approval, AbbVie will be responsible for commercial activities, with Galapagos retaining exclusive rights in China and South Korea and copromotion rights in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.  

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will make an initial upfront payment of $45 million to Galapagos for rights related to the global alliance. Upon successful completion of predetermined success milestones, AbbVie and Galapagos will share responsibility and funding for Phase III clinical development. Galapagos is eligible to receive up to $360 million in total additional payments for developmental and regulatory milestones, sales milestones upon the achievement of minimum annual net sales thresholds, and additional double-digit royalty payments on net sales.