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news.Multicell has licensed exclusive worldwide rights to LAX-202, a compound developed by UK neuroscience company Amarin for the treatment of fatigue in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.
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Multicell will rename the compound to MCT-125, and will further evaluate it in a pivotal phase IIb/III clinical trial, which is expected to begin before the end of 2006.
If MCT-125 is approved for the treatment of fatigue in MS patients by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, and is successfully commercialized, Multicell estimates the drug could generate up to $3 billion in cumulative worldwide sales during the time it is under patent protection.
If such revenue forecasts are realized, under the terms of the agreement, Amarin is eligible receive the $275 million in milestone payments and cumulative royalty payments during the same period.
In a 138-patient phase IIb clinical trial conducted in the UK by Amarin, the compound demonstrated efficacy in significantly reducing the levels of fatigue in MS patients enrolled in the study. The drug candidate also proved to be effective within four weeks of the first daily oral dosing, and showed efficacy in MS patients who were moderately as well as severely affected.
“We are optimistic MCT-125 will continue to demonstrate efficacy for the treatment of fatigue in MS patients,” said Dr Stephen Chang, president of Multicell.
About two million people worldwide are afflicted with MS, and an estimated 10,000 new MS cases are diagnosed annually in the US.